Kevin Durant scored 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns overcame a 23-point, third-quarter deficit to notch a 119-117 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.
Devin Booker had 17 points and eight assists, Nick Richards scored 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 and Collin Gillespie provided a spark with 10 fourth-quarter points.
Ivica Zubac scored a career-high 35 points on 15-of-18 shooting and collected nine rebounds for the Clippers, who lost for the sixth time in their past seven games.
James Harden registered 21 points and 15 assists and Kawhi Leonard also scored 21 points for Los Angeles. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Amir Coffey added 13 points apiece.
The Clippers played without leading scorer Norman Powell (hamstring). Powell has missed six of the past seven games, the first five due to a knee injury.
The Suns shot 51.2 percent from the field, including 14 of 34 from 3-point range. They outscored the Clippers 43-22 in the final quarter.
Los Angeles connected on 51.8 percent of its attempts and was 8 of 30 from behind the arc.
The Clippers had a chance to force overtime when Harden was fouled in the backcourt with 3.8 seconds left and Los Angeles trailing by three.
Harden made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose. Leonard got the rebound and missed a wild shot and Zubac’s tap just before the buzzer went off the rim.
Los Angeles led 95-76 entering the final quarter but Durant scored eight straight points to bring Phoenix within 11.
The Suns continued their surge with Durant making a 3-pointer to pull Phoenix within 102-100 with 6:33 to play.
Phoenix pulled even at 106 when Durant swished a jumper with 4:18 remaining.
Phoenix took a 110-108 lead on Booker’s layup with 3:02 left. It marked the Suns’ first lead since the opening minutes of the second quarter.
Gillespie drained a wide-open trey to make it 119-114 with 36.4 seconds to go.
Zubac scored consecutive baskets to start the second half and give Los Angeles a 69-49 lead.
Harden later knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 89-66 with 4:12 left in the third quarter.
Zubac scored 15 first-half points to help the Clippers hold a 65-49 lead at the break. Richards had 10 points in the half for Phoenix.
–Field Level Media
