Field Level Media
Dec 11, 2018
Tobias Harris had 33 points and eight rebounds, and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers ended a two-game losing streak with a 123-119 win in overtime over the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Danilo Gallinari scored 25 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 16 for the Clippers.
Deandre Ayton contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Richaun Holmes (19), Mikal Bridges (19) and Josh Jackson (18) all scored their season highs for the Suns, who have lost nine straight.
Phoenix never led in overtime. Troy Daniels tied the score 119-119 with 51.3 seconds left on a reverse layup, but Patrick Beverley made two free throws with 33.3 seconds left and Avery Bradley sank two more with 1.6 seconds remaining for the final margin.
Phoenix's De'Anthony Melton made a step-back 9-footer from the baseline to tie the score at 111-111 with 5.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Gallinari then missed a long, heavily contested try at the buzzer.
The Clippers took an 88-86 lead into the fourth quarter, and also held a two-point advantage (58-56) at halftime. However, the Suns bridged an 11-3 run from the third quarter and into the fourth to take a 95-91 lead with 9:26 left, their biggest margin since early in the second quarter.
Phoenix went up 104-95 on a basket by Holmes with 7:09 remaining, but that would be its last field goal until Bridges made a 3-pointer with 1:16 left to end a 12-0 run by Los Angeles and pull the Suns within 109-108.
The only time the Suns led in the third quarter was when Holmes made two free throws with 1:07 left for an 84-83 advantage, but Milos Teodosic sank an 18-foot jumper on the other end to put the Clippers back ahead.
The Clippers didn't lead until Beverley scored with 7:59 left in the first half for a 37-35 advantage.
Suns' leading scorer Devin Booker (23.5 points per game) missed his fourth consecutive game due to a hamstring injury. Second-leading scorer T.J. Warren (17.7 ppg) returned under restricted minutes after missing the previous five games with an ankle injury. He scored six points in 12 minutes.
Lou Williams, the third-leading scorer for the Clippers (17.6 ppg), left midway through the second quarter with a sore left hamstring and did not return. He scored seven points in 12 minutes off the bench.
--Field Level Media