NBA: Suns end skid against skeleton Clippers crew
Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Moses Brown #9 and John Wall #11 of the LA Clippers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena on December 15, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
Mikal Bridges scored 27 points and Chris Paul added 15 points with 13 assists as the visiting Phoenix Suns ended a five-game losing streak with a 111-95 victory Thursday over the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers.
Devin Booker scored 14 points in his return to action as the Suns won for just the second time in eight December games.
Booker, who had missed the previous two games with a tight left hamstring, showed some rust in going 6 of 22 — missing 10 consecutive shots at one point, including all seven in the third quarter.
Phoenix won without Deandre Ayton (ankle) and Cameron Payne (foot), who both departed early from Tuesday’s game at Houston. Cameron Johnson (knee) also was out.
Terance Mann had season highs with 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, while Brandon Boston Jr. added 16 points as Los Angeles was missing most of its offensive firepower.
MIKAL. BRIDGES. pic.twitter.com/STBMNwp2f7
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 16, 2022
Kawhi Leonard (rest), Paul George (knee soreness), Luke Kennard (calf), Reggie Jackson (Achilles), Ivica Zubac (knee) and Norman Powell (groin) all were out for Los Angeles. Leonard, George, Powell and Jackson are four of the Clippers’ five top scorers.
Moses Brown (12 rebounds) received his first start of the season for the Clippers, while John Wall (12 points) made his second start. Jason Preston came off the bench in just his fifth game this season, while Moussa Diabate played in his seventh game.
The Suns wasted little time taking advantage of the Clippers’ personnel issues, taking a 29-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Phoenix pushed the lead to 64-37 at halftime by shooting 54.2 percent while holding Los Angeles to 29.5 percent.
The Suns weathered a 14-0 run by the Clippers in the third quarter and took an 89-70 lead into the final period before cruising to the victory.
Jock Landale tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix, while fellow reserve Josh Okogie added 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Marcus Morris Sr. had 14 points for Los Angeles and Amir Coffey had 11. The Clippers finished at 37.8 percent from the field.
