Clippers at Suns
THE STORY: The playoff hopes for Phoenix are all but over going into Friday's home game against the Clippers. The Suns, who have lost four straight and five of six, are in 10th place in the Western Conference. Phoenix trails eighth-place Memphis by 5 1/2 games with eight games to play. Other than waiting for more highlight reel plays from Blake Griffin, there's isn't much to see with the Clippers. Los Angeles won't be in the playoffs again and has already traded away its lottery pick in the draft.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS-West, FS-Arizona
ABOUT THE SUNS (36-38): A season after advancing to the Western Conference Finals, Phoenix won't even make the playoffs. Even though the Suns have been inconsistent most of the season, it looked like they would at least make the postseason early last month, but they are 3-9 since March 6, a stretch that includes two four-game losing streaks. Being able to protect home court is also a thing of the past. Phoenix has lost three in a row at home and is 2-5 in its last seven games at U.S. Airways Center. The Suns have allowed 116 points in each of their last two games and were run out of the building in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss to Oklahoma City, allowing 37 points.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (29-46): Since winning four straight from March 2-9, Los Angeles is 4-6 in its last 10 games. It's been especially difficult lately for coach Vinny Del Negro to get a handle on his team. The Clippers have flip-flopped between a win and a loss in their last six games. A lack of poise played a factor in Wednesday's 106-100 home loss to Dallas. While trying to stay in the game in the fourth quarter, Griffin was hit with a technical foul and guard Mo Williams picked up two, earning an ejection. While they were busy complaining to the referees, Los Angeles watched the Mavericks go on a 13-1 run to blow open a close game.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Grant Hill is averaging 8.6 points in his last three games, well below his 13.0 season average for the Suns. He was held to three points Wednesday and scored eight on March 27 against Dallas. Griffin is averaging 25.5 points and 12.2 rebounds in his last four games.
KEY STATISTIC: Trailing by three points late in the third quarter Wednesday against Oklahoma City, the Suns made two field goals in the next 10 minute and fell behind by 20.
SEASON SERIES: The Suns have won two of the three games. Phoenix won at home 116-108 on Nov. 26. The Clippers took a 108-103 decision at home on Dec. 26, but the Suns won in L.A. 108-99 on March 20. Steve Nash is averaging 20 points and 12.7 assists against the Clippers.
KEY INJURIES: L.A. CLIPPERS: None. PHOENIX: G Mickael Pietrus (knee).
LAST WORD: "It was a bad night for us. We played terrible defense. We played with no toughness or physicality. We lost all of our energy." -- Suns center Marcin Gortat after Wednesday's loss to Oklahoma City.