Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers | |||||
Dec 8, 2012 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
Phoenix (17-4) | 26 | 23 | 29 | 30 | 108 |
Los Angeles (12-7) | 28 | 21 | 19 | 27 | 95 |
Suns 108, Clippers 95
PHOENIX -- The Suns continued their hot streak Saturday night in Staples Center as the LA Clippers tried and failed to contain their devastating offensive attack. Eric Gordon again led the way for the Suns, finishing with 34 points and eight assists. For Gordon, this game was personal, as the Clippers traded him last season to the Hornets for Chris Paul.
"Yeah, this one meant something," said Gordon, who was unusually emotional during the game, getting chatty with some of his former teammates. "I wanted to go out there and show my new team how good I am ... I wanted to show my old team what they were missing out on."
Chris Paul did not have a spectacular night, finishing with only 15 points and seven assists, but that didn't stop others on the Clippers from making this a game. The team played well in the first half, storming back from a six point second quarter deficit to tie the game at 49 during halftime.
The outstanding play of Jamal Crawford in the first half was the main reason for the tie but halftime cooled Crawford off. He scored only eight of his 24 points in the second half, which was one the reasons why the Clippers fell behind in the third quarter.
"I got cold and I just couldn't get warmed back up," said Crawford.
Blake Griffin tried his best to bring the team back, closing the lead to eight points with 7:54 to go in the fourth, but he was unable to get many more points after that. Griffin finished with 20 points and 10 boards, on a very efficient 9-14 from the field.
"As a team we didn't step it up when we needed to ... this is a teaching moment," said Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro.
Griffin lost the matchup at power forward to the veteran Luis Scola, who continues to score despite his age and relative lack of athleticism. Scola finished with 26 points and 10 boards, not missing a shot until the fourth quarter.
"Luis played great tonight," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry. "This is what we like to see as a team ... a night like this where no one is afraid of the big moments."
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