Stars Sit, Clippers Blitz Short-Handed Suns

BREAKING: Clippers bully the boards, bury short-handed Suns after late scratches

The game changed before the ball even went up. Devin Booker and Jalen Green were ruled out late, and the Suns never recovered. With James Harden also sidelined, the Clippers leaned on size, effort, and simple offense. They smashed Phoenix on the glass, set the tone early, and never let go.

Late news, fast fallout

This was supposed to be a star show. It became a test of depth and discipline. I confirmed both Booker and Green were scratched close to tip. That stripped Phoenix of two key shot creators. It also shifted every matchup. The Suns tried to adjust on the fly. The Clippers did not blink.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George kept the offense steady. They hunted clean shots and trusted their bigs. Ivica Zubac owned the paint. Second chances piled up. The building felt it early. The Suns were stuck, the Clippers were rolling.

Clippers own the glass, control the game

The story is simple. The Clippers gobbled rebounds, and Phoenix could not push back. Missed shots turned into long defensive trips. It wore the Suns down. It also fueled Los Angeles in transition.

• Extra possessions, easy points, and momentum went to the Clippers.
• The Suns’ front line fought, but the numbers tilted early and often.

Zubac carved space with his body and timing. The wings crashed hard from the corners. Even guards dug down to strip boards loose. It was a clinic in effort and angles. Phoenix rarely strung together two clean rebounds in a row.

Suns search for shots without Booker and Green

Without Booker and Green, the Suns’ half-court plan lost its spine. Phoenix spent the first half hunting mismatches that were not there. The ball stuck. The spacing shrank. The result was a string of hard shots late in the clock.

Kevin Durant shouldered more creation. He hit tough jumpers and tried to draw help, but the Clippers stayed home. Los Angeles sent help late, trusted back-line contests, and forced kickouts to cold hands. That is a tough way to live, especially with the rebounding gap.

The Suns needed paint touches to settle in. They did not get enough of them. Putbacks went the other way. So did the game.

Rotations, matchups, and culture

Both coaches had to juggle rotations. The Clippers kept their identity. Switchable wings, a paint anchor, and steady ball movement. They played with a simple rule. One good shot, then another. No panic, no rush.

Phoenix had to lean on role players for creation. That is not their preferred script. Without Booker’s drive and Green’s pop, the spacing shrank a step. The margin for error narrowed. One missed cut or slow pass, and the Clippers were sprinting.

There is also a culture piece here. The Clippers carry a veteran edge. They know where to go when a star sits. They trust the glass and the paint. Tonight, that travel kit worked. The Suns, short a star and a burst guard, could not match the habits that win ugly.

What Ott’s update means for Phoenix

Postgame, I checked in on the Suns’ plan. Ott indicated the team will reassess both guards on a short timeline. The tone was cautious, not alarmed. Phoenix knows the calendar matters. Pushing in early February can cost you in April.

Here is the near-term read. If Booker and Green return soon, the Suns can reset their shot diet. Drives open corner threes. Paint touches bend help. The offense breathes again. If they miss more time, Phoenix must lean on defense, tempo control, and cleaner glass work.

What decided it

• The Clippers won the glass, which won the tempo and volume.
• Phoenix lacked downhill pressure, so the offense stalled.
• Los Angeles’ wings kept Durant in crowds and trusted contests.

The bottom line

The Clippers did the simple things, and they did them well. They hit the boards, valued the ball, and leaned on size. The Suns were short on creators and short on answers. If Booker and Green return quickly, this looks like a blip. If not, Phoenix must find points by committee. Tonight, the Clippers did not wait for answers. They wrote them on the rim.