Suns at Clippers
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns look for their ninth victory in 12 games when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers. The hot stretch is giving Phoenix a chance to make a run at one of the final Western Conference playoff spots. The Suns beat one of the other candidates in the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Los Angeles is two games behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the Pacific Division after defeating the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SUNS (20-22): Guard Jared Dudley had 21 points against Utah to continue his recent stretch of strong offensive performances. Dudley has three 20-point outings over the last seven games, including a season-high 28 against Minnesota on Monday. Dudley is averaging 19.9 points over the last seven games but deflects credit. “We’re firing on all cylinders offensively,” Dudley said. “We’re being unselfish and looking for guys who are hot.” Dudley had 22 points when the Suns beat the Clippers earlier this month.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (24-17): Los Angeles is attempting to emerge from its roughest stretch of the season. The victory over Atlanta was just its fifth in 13 games and was the first in three games during a six-game homestand that runs through Sunday. Backup guards Mo Williams with 25 points and Eric Bledsoe with 14 points were the high scorers against Atlanta as Chris Paul (13) and Blake Griffin (12) combined for just 25 between them. “It was a must-win,” Williams said. “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves for this game because we needed it really bad.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Phoenix has won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including an 81-78 victory on March 2.
2. Paul has at least one steal in 45 consecutive games.
3. Channing Frye scored 26 points and Marcin Gortat tallied 25 in the victory over the Jazz.