Clippers at Suns
There appears to be a changing of the guard in the West as the Los Angeles Clippers are poised to become the class of the conference. Los Angeles, without Paul George, already owns victories over the Lakers and Golden State as it tries for its 13th straight victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
“One of our best players is sitting in street clothes still,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters about George, who underwent surgery on both shoulders during the offseason. "So clearly we’re going to get better when Paul comes back. But we can’t wait either. To win the West, you have to win games.” Los Angeles forward Kawhi Leonard, who won the NBA title with Toronto last season, is the biggest tipper of the scales and is off to a solid start (51 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds) with his new club. Phoenix lost 108-107 in overtime at Denver on Friday in its first game without Deandre Ayton. The top pick in the 2018 draft, who had 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in the Suns' season-opening 124-95 victory over Sacramento on Wednesday, was suspended 25 games Friday for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (2-0): Lou Williams has averaged 20 or more points in the last two seasons and is on his way to doing it again with 43 points this season. Montrezl Harrell averaged a career-high 26.3 minutes last season and responded with 16.6 points per game and those numbers could grow this year as he's already scored 35 points in 63 minutes. Leonard recorded a career-high nine assists in Los Angeles' 141-122 victory over Golden State on Thursday.
ABOUT THE SUNS (1-1): With Ayton out until mid-December, Phoenix will lean on Aron Baynes to play center and he contributed 15 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes Friday. Kelly Oubre Jr. is off to a fast start with a total of 44 points and 17 rebounds while Devin Booker has scored 40. Cameron Johnson (calf) and Ty Jerome (ankle), the 11th and 24th overall picks in the 2019 draft, have yet to make their professional debuts.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Los Angeles has won by an average of 15 points during its winning streak over Phoenix.
2. The Suns are 19-for-61 from 30-point range after going 8-for-28 on Friday.
3. The Clippers have made 57.1 percent of their field goal attempts, including 46 percent from 3-point range.