Clippers-Suns Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Mar 02 2012 2:26AM

The Los Angeles Clippers kicked off a grueling slate of games with an easy win behind an impressive display from Chris Paul.

The five-time All-Star could make all the difference as the Clippers look to put an end to their recent struggles in Phoenix.

In the first of four upcoming meetings between these teams, Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles visits the Suns on Friday night hoping to avoid a ninth consecutive defeat at US Airways Center.

Since posting a 103-99 road win over the Suns (15-20) on April 17, 2007, Los Angeles (21-12) has dropped 14 of 16 in the series - including eight in a row in Phoenix by an average of 17.2 points. Paul, however, is averaging 24.6 points and 10.9 assists in his last 12 matchups with the Suns, and could give the Clippers a leg up in this one.

Scoring 28.3 points per contest on 60.8 percent shooting in his last three, Paul scored a team-high 22 to go along with nine assists as Los Angeles began a stretch of four games in five nights with Thursday's 108-100 win at Sacramento.

While the Clippers were outrebounded 40-33, they made 12 of 23 from 3-point range and built a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter, allowing most of their starters to get some much-deserved rest.

"To be in a game like this where I think we (only played) in the fourth quarter for like 2-3 minutes, it's great," Blake Griffin said. "You don't have to finish the game off and get the extra rest, especially with this stretch of games coming up."

In their first game back following the All-Star break, the Suns looked refreshed during Thursday's 104-95 win over Minnesota. Phoenix limited the Timberwolves to 39.5 percent from the field and won its fourth straight when holding an opponent under 100 points.

"Much needed win for us, it's something we can try and build on (Friday) night," coach Alvin Gentry said.

One of six Suns to score in double figures, Steve Nash had 13 points to go along with 17 assists and a season-high eight rebounds.

"He knows how to play, he's smart and like I said, he's one of the best ever," Timberwolves rookie point guard Ricky Rubio said of Nash. "He knows how to control the game and he passes very well, which option he has to find for the team and he just runs it and does it."

Nash is averaging 15.3 points and 11.5 assists in his last 27 meetings with the Clippers, coming out on the winning side 21 times.

After a lackluster start at home, Phoenix has taken three of four on its own court. With eight of their next 10 games at home, the Suns could creep back into the Western Conference playoff picture. They currently sit in 13th place, 3 1/2 games behind Denver for the eighth and final postseason berth.

"(Friday's) a big matchup. We're at home. We're trying to get on a roll here - it's the Clippers," swingman Jared Dudley said. "I expect a sellout crowd ... it should be exciting, hopefully we can come here with the fan support and come out with a win."

Suns rally to beat Clippers 81-78

Posted Mar 03 2012 2:23AM

PHOENIX (AP) On a night few shots fell, Phoenix guard Jared Dudley made more than most.

Dudley scored 22 points and made two crucial free throws in the final minute as the Suns rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 81-78 on Friday.

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Grant Hill added 14 points for the Suns, who won for the fourth time in five games despite shooting 35 percent from the floor.

"It wasn't pretty, especially early on," Dudley said. "It's been two games at home where we haven't gotten it going early but defense kept us in there."

Channing Frye was emblematic of both the Suns' offensive struggles and defensive success, shooting 2 of 18 from the floor but adding a key free throw. He pulled down 14 rebounds and held Blake Griffin to 17 points on a season-low 6 of 19 from the floor.

"He bodied him up and played with him and 6 for 19 is as good as you can hope from him," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "The great thing is we took everything away from him."

Chris Paul had 16 points and Kenyon Martin added 14 off the bench for the Clippers, who shot 37 percent en route to their second loss in their past three.

"I felt like we were really dead and didn't have it," Griffin said. "There was not a lot of energy. There's no excuse."

The Suns, who trailed by 11 points midway through the second quarter, opened a 63-52 lead on Markieff Morris' 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds left in the third.

The Clippers slowly rallied, tying the game at 70 on Mo Williams' 3-pointer from the left corner with 4 minutes to play.

Gortat blocked Caron Butler and Frye made 1 of 2 free throws to give the Suns a 77-72 lead with 29.5 seconds left. Paul pulled the Clippers within 77-75 with a wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the arc off the inbounds pass with 26.5 to go.

After a pair of Phoenix timeouts, Frye broke free to Hill's inbound pass before the Suns worked the ball to Dudley, who was fouled. Dudley's two free throws put the Suns ahead 79-75.

Paul attempted a 3-pointer but his shot was blocked by Hill, who then scored on a layup to secure the Suns' 13th win in their past 14 games against the Clippers.

"We shot horribly," Hill said. "We had good looks. We had great shots. They just didn't go through or go in. For the most part, our defense sustained."

Phoenix scored just 15 second-quarter points - barely outpacing the Clippers' 14 - yet trailed only 35-32 at the half. Hill gave the Suns their first lead since the early minutes, 38-37, on 14-foot jumper 9:56 into the third quarter.

"We just didn't shoot it," said Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro. "Both teams played last night. They struggled shooting. We struggled shooting. It was a low-scoring, ugly game especially in the first half."

The Suns have won nine straight at home against the Clippers, dating to April 17, 2007.

NOTES: The Suns' field-goal percentage was their lowest in a win since November 1, 2002 against Cleveland when Phoenix shot 33.3 percent. . Frye missed his first 10 shots, all in the first half, before scoring on a dunk 23 seconds into the second half. His other field goal was a 3-pointer, after which he stuck out his tongue and pumped his fist as he ran up the court. ... Los Angeles shot 35.7 percent from the floor in the first half, the Suns 29.5 percent. Missed shots were so prevalent that after Hill missed a second-quarter free throw, Clippers C DeAndre Jordan, Griffin and Frye all handled and squeezed the ball in turn, as if making sure it wasn't a foreign object. ... Gentry is 10-1 against the Clippers, whom he coached from 2000 to 2003. . The Suns' 32 first-half points were a season low. . Terrell Owens and Evander Holyfield each was in attendance ahead of a celebrity basketball game Saturday.

Notebook: Suns 81, Clippers 78

Posted Saturday March 3, 2012 1:56AM

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Only the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers have won the Pacific Division since the NBA realigned the divisions before the 2004-05 season.

The Los Angeles Clippers, leading the division heading into Friday, would like to change that. But they didn't help themselves Friday night when the Suns came from behind then held on for a gritty 81-78 win in Arizona.

"Our defense rescued us," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

The Suns limited Blake Griffin, guarded by Channing Frye, and Chris Paul, covered by Grant Hill, to a combined 12-for-34. The Suns (16-20) shot only 35 percent themselves but got 22 points from Jared Dudley and 18 points and 14 boards from Marcin Gortat. Steve Nash had just six points, six assists and seven turnovers.

The Clippers (21-13) got a fine game from Kenyon Martin, 34, who bounced around the floor with great energy in scoring 14 on 7-for-11 shooting and grabbing eight boards.

The Suns, who trailed 35-32 at halftime, got their ninth straight home win vs. the Clippers.

QUOTABLE: "I felt like we were dead. We didn't have it."
-- Clippers' Blake Griffin.

THE STAT: The Suns won even though they'd only scored 23 points with three minutes left in the first half.

TURNING POINT: With the score tied 70-70 with 2:40 left, Gortat hit a layup, then, moments later knocked down two free throws to give the Suns a 74-70 lead with 1:57 left. Then, with 30 seconds left and the Suns leading 76-72, Gortat blocked a shot near the hoop by the Clippers' Caron Butler to preserve the win.

QUOTABLE II: "They're going to be a very tough out in the playoffs because of Chris Paul and the most athletic player....maybe in the history of sports [Griffin]."
-- Suns coach Alvin Gentry.

HOT: Nobody.

NOT: Frye shot 2-for-18.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Suns rookie Markieff Morris has gone south. In the past five games, he's averaged 5.0 points on 8-for-39 shooting.

NOTABLE: The Suns are 4-1 on their six-game homestand.

UP NEXT: For the Clippers, Sunday @ Houston, Monday @ Minnesota and Wednesday @ New Jersey. For the Suns, Sunday vs. Sacramento, Wednesday @ Oklahoma City and Thursday vs. Dallas.

• Clippers: Billups, Leslie
• Suns: --

• Clippers: Jordan
• Suns: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 3

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #26 Pat Fraher, #44 Eli Roe
• Attendance: 18091
• Duration: 2:29