Suns at Clippers
THE STORY: The Phoenix Suns seek their fifth straight victory over the Los Angeles Clippers when the teams square off for the third time this month. Phoenix defeated the Clippers at home on March 2 and rallied from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit to win in Los Angeles on March 15. The Clippers are 2-0 on a five-game homestand and defeated the New Orleans Hornets on Monday. Phoenix lost at home to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, Fox Sports Arizona, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SUNS (25-25): Phoenix is in 10th place in the Western Conference and two games behind the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets, who are tied for the seventh and eighth playoff spots. The Suns are entering a pivotal stretch in which eight of 10 games are on the road. Phoenix is just 10-14 away from the home so the team’s playoff hopes definitely hang in the balance. Swingman Shannon Brown scored a career-best 32 points against the Spurs. Brown’s previous season-best of 21 points was against the Clippers on March 15.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (28-21): Point guard Chris Paul is averaging just 13 points against Phoenix this season and tallied just 10 points in the last outing when the Suns rested Steve Nash for the middle contest of a back-to-back-to-back. Paul was on his game against his former club Monday with 25 points, 10 assists and four steals. Paul’s ability to score will be a major component over the next few weeks with lethal reserve Mo Williams out with a left big toe injury and Randy Foye plagued by consistency issues. Foye’s point totals over the past four games: 23, three (on 1-of-14 shooting), 18 and then five points against the Hornets.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Phoenix has won 13 of the last 14 meetings.
2. Suns forward Grant Hill (knee) sat out against San Antonio but may return against Los Angeles.
3. Clippers forward Blake Griffin is 14 of 19 from the field over the last two games.