Suns at Clippers
The streaking Los Angeles Clippers look to defeat Phoenix for the ninth consecutive time when they host the Suns on Wednesday. Los Angeles has been one of the league's top surprises and has won nine of its last 11 contests.
The Clippers aren't making a huge deal out of their impressive 13-6 record since there is still three-fourths of the regular season to go. "Let’s not get excited," center Marcin Gortat told reporters. “I’ve been on the teams that played well, and 15-20 games in we were thinking about which team we’re going to play in the playoffs, from what position we’re going to play. The next thing you know, you barely make the playoffs from an eighth spot. So you’ve got to slow down and calm down.” Phoenix has dropped nine of its last 11 contests after falling 109-104 to the visiting Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The Suns are 1-9 on the road and four of the defeats have come by 20 or more points.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE SUNS (4-16): Phoenix recently posted a stunning road win over the Milwaukee Bucks and was tied with the Pacers with 45.9 seconds left before Indiana scored the final five points. Star guard Devin Booker, who had 20 points and eight assists Tuesday, doesn't like losing but observed that the young squad is displaying progress despite all the setbacks. "We realize that when we fight, we can compete with anybody," Booker told reporters after Tuesday's defeat. "... We see that we bring energy and effort, that is half the battle. Now I think it is on to chemistry and execution for us."
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (13-6): Small forward Tobias Harris scored a season-high 34 points and matched a season best of 11 rebounds in Sunday's 104-100 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers to cap off a strong week in which he won Western Conference Player of the Week honors. Harris has thrived in his new role as a go-to player by scoring at least 20 points on 12 occasions this season and is also impressed with the tenacity of his teammates. "We have a group of guys who want to win, who want to prove ourselves that we can close out games and win," Harris told reporters.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Clippers have won their last nine home games against the Suns and 12 of the past 13.
2. Phoenix SF T.J. Warren scored 25 points against the Pacers to record his eight 20-point effort in the past 10 games.
3. Los Angeles backup G Lou Williams reached double digits in each of the first 18 games before struggling to four points on 2-of-13 shooting against Portland.