PHOENIX — If the Clippers still needed a wake-up call that this season is slipping from their grasp, a frustrating night in the desert should serve as a pretty loud one.
Kevin Durant scored 34 points, Devin Booker added 17 points and eight assists and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 23-point deficit late in the third quarter to beat the Clippers, 119-117, on Tuesday night.
The Suns trailed by 19 entering the fourth but came all the way back thanks to big buckets from Durant and backup guard Collin Gillespie, who combined for 29 points in the fourth. Phoenix, which won for just the fourth time in the past 15 games, outscored the Clippers 43-22 in the fourth to revive its playoff hopes.
Gillespie scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to give the Suns a much-needed spark in the second half. Nick Richards added 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting and Mason Plumlee had 14 points for the Suns, who won for just the fourth time in the past 15 games. Royce O’Neale recorded 12 points.
Ivica Zubac had a career-best 35 points (15-for-19 shooting) and 10 rebounds to pace the Clippers, who lost for the sixth time in seven games and are losing ground in the Western Conference playoff race.
James Harden had 21 points (5-of-14 shooting) and 15 assists, and Kawhi Leonard also scored 21 for the Clippers, who again played without leading scorer Norman Powell (hamstring). Powell has missed six of the past seven games, the first five due to a knee injury.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Amir Coffey added 13 points apiece.
The Clippers had a chance to force overtime when Harden was fouled in the backcourt with 3.8 seconds left and his team trailing by three. Harden made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose. Leonard grabbed the rebound and missed a wild shot, then Zubac’s tap-in attempt just before the buzzer went off the rim.
Harden made a 3-pointer with 4:12 left in the third quarter to give the Clippers an 89-66 lead, but Booker answered with a 3-pointer…
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