Back on solid footing at home, Phoenix Suns set to face wobbly LA Clippers
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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker shoots a two-point basket over Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during the second half.
PHOTO: EPA
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PHOENIX – Home is where the Suns shine.
Phoenix will return to their own building on Nov 6 (Nov 7, Singapore time) to meet the Los Angeles Clippers in the first game of a home-and-home set, and the Suns will welcome the familiar surroundings.
The Suns are 3-1 at home this season, with their only loss coming on Ja Morant’s 11-footer in the lane with 7.6 seconds remaining in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 114-113 victory on Oct 29.
Since then, the Suns have registered double-digit National Basketball Association (NBA) home victories over the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs. They led by as many as 25 in a 118-96 victory over the Jazz, and most recently built a 31-point lead to hand the Spurs their first loss, 130-118 on Nov 2.
Phoenix overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Sacramento Kings in the season opener at home but enter Nov 6 after a 118-107 loss at the Golden State Warriors in a game in which the Suns fell behind by 25 points and dropped to 0-4 on the road.
“Just not following the game plan,” said Suns guard Devin Booker, who had a season-high 38 points against the Warriors. “We got to come in more focused. We got to get off to a better start.”
The Clippers are coming off a 126-107 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, when they were in contention even in the third quarter, before the champions then went on a 17-0 run.
“Basketball is a game of runs, defending champs, simple,” Clippers guard James Harden said of the outcome. “It’s a four-quarter game.”
Harden had 25 points, six assists and six rebounds while leading the Clippers, who played without Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Bradley Beal (knee) in the second game of a back-to-back.
Meanwhile, in NBA action on Nov 5, Deni Avdija recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Portland Trail Blazers registered a 121-119 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to hand them their first loss this term.
Jrue Holiday scored 22 points and Jerami Grant added 20 off the bench for Portland, who trailed by 22 points in the opening quarter and never led until 6:44 into the final stanza.
The Trail Blazers halted a 16-game skid against Oklahoma City.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 35 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who won their first eight games and were the NBA’s last remaining unbeaten team. REUTERS
