Suns 108 - 99 Clippers
Final
  for this game

Suns pay a visit to Clippers

Mar 20, 2011 - 3:03 PM (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Suns will begin a tour through Los Angeles this afternoon, starting with a showdown against the Clippers at Staples Center.

The Suns will also take on the two-time defending champion Lakers and are 15-18 away from the desert. They have dropped three in a row as the guest, but ended a four-game losing streak with Friday's 108-97 victory versus the Golden State Warriors at US Airways Center.

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and Steve Nash finished with 17 points and 10 assists for Phoenix, which is 2 1/2 games off the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference. Grant Hill and Channing Frye scored 17 points apiece in a winning effort. Frye returned from a five-game absence because of a dislocated shoulder.

"Finally, we started to play better defense and were more aggressive offensively," Gortat said. "Still, we have to learn how to close games. Golden State is a really dangerous team. They know how to come back. I'm just glad we won this game."

The Clippers will resume a four-game homestand today and ended a two-game slide with Saturday's 100-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Blake Griffin had a busy night with 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Eric Gordon returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games with a right wrist injury, scoring 29 points.

"Everybody was playing as a team today," Griffin said. "When Eric Gordon plays he really opens up the court. This was definitely a game we wanted to get."

Craig Smith added 12 points in a reserve role and Mo Williams contributed 11 points in a winning effort. The Clippers will also host Washington on the residency and are 19-16 at home this season.

LA has won six of its last nine contests overall.

The Suns and Clippers have split a pair of meetings this season, with each team winning as the host. Phoenix has won 12 of the last 14 matchups between the teams and is 13-5 in the past 18 encounters as the guest.






Related News