On January 7, Beijing time, the Suns defeated the Clippers 106-89 at home, not only revenge for the loss to the opponent in the last meeting, but also surpassed the Warriors who lost today and returned to the first place in the league. Currently, the Suns are 30-8 and the Warriors are 29-9, making the Suns the first team to reach 30-win this season. Booker felt cold, 5 of 22, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Paul had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to achieve his first triple-double of the season and the 17th triple-double of his career. Cameron Johnson scored 24 points. The Suns led the Clippers by 16 points in the first half, and in the second half, the Clippers narrowed the point difference to 3 points, and the Suns withstood the pressure to win three consecutive games.
Statistics
Clippers: Morris 26 points and 8 rebounds, Reggie 16 points and 8 rebounds, Bledsoe 10 points and 5 rebounds, Mann 8 points, Ibaka 8 points and 6 rebounds
Suns: Paul 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Booker 11 points and 10 rebounds, Johnson 24 points and 7 rebounds, Smith 19 points, 14 rebounds, Payne 10 points
Star of the Field: Paul + Johnson
Johnson performed well, scoring 24 points. At key moments, Paul was solid, taking his first triple-double of the season. His three-pointers and assists helped the Suns withstand the pressure and win.
Highlight moments
Kill a back carbine! Paul turned around and hit a jumper!
Reggie dunked with both hands!
Johnson hit a three-pointer and he scored 17 points in the first half!
Bledsoe hit the board to score!
Paul hit a three-pointer!
In the third quarter, Morris hit a three-pointer to narrow the gap to single digits.
In the last quarter, Kofi scored 2+1!
Bridges Quick Attack Dunk!
Game review
In the first quarter, Reggie scored on a layup, Johnson hit a mid-range shot, Ibaka also hit a mid-range shot, Smith hit a three-pointer, and Morris and Paul hit each other's mid-range shots. Reggie scored with a dunk, Ibaka scored on a layup, Morris scored four straight points and the Clippers went on an 8-0 run. Johnson hit two three-pointers in a row, Booker scored four straight points and the Suns responded with a 10-0 run. Payton scored on a layup, Bledsoe hit the board, and the first quarter ended, and the Suns led the Clippers 21-20.
In the second quarter, the Suns' Jackson scored 5 consecutive points, Payne steals to play 2+1, Morris hit a shot, breaking the Clippers scoring drought, but the Suns attacked like a tide, Payne scored 4 points in a row, Payton hit a layup, and the Suns stopped the Clippers 17-2. Reggie hit three-pointers, Smith scored six straight points, Mann hit a mid-range shot, Kofi hit a three-pointer, Booker scored five straight points, Morris hit a three-pointer, and Johnson hit a three-pointer. At halftime, the Suns led the Clippers 56-40. In the first half, the Suns scored the highest points with Johnson, who scored 17 points, and the Clippers scored the highest with Morris, who scored 13 points.
Easy side to fight again, Reggie made two free throws, Ibaka hooked a score, Smith scored a basket, and Morris hit a shot. Paul scored a layup, Ibaka hooked another shot, Paul hit a three-pointer, Reggie scored with a dunk, and Paul hit a mid-range shot. Bridges tossed the board to score, and the Suns still led by 17 points. Mann scored from mid-range and Morris hit a three-pointer. Wayne Letra scored on a layup, Brandon Jr. scored on a layup, Morris hit another three-pointer and the Clippers narrowed the gap to seven. Booker hit a shot and ended in the third quarter to give the Suns a 75-66 lead over the Clippers.
In the final quarter, Smith scored on a layup, Reggie was that hit, Brandon Jr. scored in the middle, Payton threw a score, Bledsoe and Koffy scored a layup to make a 2+1, and the Clippers narrowed the gap to 3 points. Bridges scored four points in a row, Paul made two free throws, Bledsoe scored from the middle, Koffy dunked, Smith scored in a layup, Morris scored 2+1, Paul hit a three-pointer, Johnson scored on a layup, Smith scored on a dunk, and the Suns widened the point difference to double digits. Morris made two free throws, Smith scored on a layup, Johnson hit another three points, and the two sides replaced them. In the end, the Suns defeated the Clippers and returned to the league's number one throne.
Player ratings
Clippers: Reggie Jackson: 3.2 Bledsoe: 3.8 Mann: 7.3 Morris: 9.4 Ibaka: 7.5 Batum: 6.4
Suns: Paul: 9.8 Booker: 6.4 Bridges: 9.0 Johnson: 9.9 Smith: 9.8 Payne: 9.2