Clippers’ late rally fizzles out in loss to Suns

Clippers’ Late Rally Fizzles Out in Loss to Suns

Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while John Collins added 19 points in a shortened lineup during their 114-103 defeat against the Phoenix Suns.

Kawhi Leonard missed his third consecutive game due to a sprained ankle, impacting the team's performance.

Clippers Face Challenges and Need Improvement

The Clippers acknowledge the need to improve on defense, build stronger team chemistry, and reduce turnovers to become better than a .500 team.

“We got to play better,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “We got to do things better, starting with the coaches and everybody. We all gotta to look ourselves in the mirror.”

The team struggles with injuries and falling behind by large margins. Despite battling back from an 18-point deficit, the Clippers could not overcome the Suns.

Game Recap and Coach’s Perspective

The loss marked the Clippers' fourth straight defeat and third consecutive home loss at the Intuit Dome.

“When it gets tough, we got to get tougher and so I liked our fight back,” Lue said. “I thought we did a good job of not letting go of the rope tonight.”

Although they didn’t play perfectly, the Clippers nearly avenged their previous loss to the Suns. Trailing 104-96 late, Kris Dunn made a layup and James Harden converted a free throw after a technical foul, narrowing the gap to 104-99.

Key Moments

Ivica Zubac: 21 points, 15 rebounds
John Collins: 19 points
Kawhi Leonard sidelined with ankle injury
Clippers rallied from 18 points down
Loss extended to four consecutive games

Author's summary: Facing injuries and defensive struggles, the Clippers showed resilience but need significant improvement to overcome consistent losses.

Los Angeles Daily News — 2025-11-09