Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, shoots over Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards, left, during the first half on Monday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers guard James Harden, right, battles Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale, left, for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) leaps to the basket for a dunk against Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) dunks against Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee, right, alters a shot by Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue shouts instructions to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) hangs from the rim after dunking against Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale, bottom, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates his made basket against the Clippers with Suns forward Royce O’Neale (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers guard James Harden drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal defends during the first half on Monday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (2) blocks a shot by Clippers guard James Harden, right, as Suns guard Bradley Beal, second from left, and Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, look on during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, left, talks with Suns center Nick Richards (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) beats Clippers center Mo Bamba (4) to the basket for a layup during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) passes the ball as he collides with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) celebrates his score against the Clippers with Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, left, drives past Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) to score during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, left, talks with center Ivica Zubac (40) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) dunks against Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives past Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) to score as Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards (2) slides into the team bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee (22) defends against a shot by Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones, center, celebrates his 3-pointer against the Clippers with Suns’ Damion Lee, left, Oso Ighodaro, second from left, and Devin Booker, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Phoenix. The Suns won 111-109. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, shoots over Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards, left, during the first half on Monday night in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX — The Clippers staged a late rally but came up just short to begin their four-game, cross-country road trip with a loss.
Devin Booker scored 26 points, Kevin Durant added 24 and the surging Phoenix Suns held off the Clippers, 111-109, on Monday night.
The Suns had a 103-90 lead with 5:06 left after a Durant 3-pointer and still led by 11 with 2:43 left, but the Clippers went on a late 10-0 run. Sparked by a 3-pointer from Norman Powell and three free throws from James Harden, the Clippers cut the deficit to 107-106 on Powell’s short jumper with 40.4 seconds remaining.
Bradley Beal drove baseline on the Suns’ next possession and was fouled by Harden. The Clippers challenged the call, but officials ruled that Harden had hit Beal with his legs. Beal then made two free throws for a 109-106 lead.
Phoenix fouled Powell before he could hoist a 3-point attempt with 19.7 seconds left, and the guard made one of two shots at the free-throw line. Phoenix’s Grayson Allen made two free throws with 10 seconds left for a 111-107 advantage, then missed a free throw on purpose with 1.3 seconds left and the Clippers out of timeouts. Powell’s long heave at the buzzer was way off.
Ivica Zubac had 25 points (12-of-17 shooting from the field) and 16 rebounds to lead the Clippers. Harden added 24 points and 10 assists, while Powell finished with 23 points. Kawhi Leonard played a season-high 28 minutes and had 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
Allen scored 18 off the bench while Tyus Jones added 17 for the Suns, who have won nine of their past 12 games.
Booker did a good portion of his damage from 3-point range, going 5 for 10 from behind the arc while also collecting eight assists and seven rebounds. Durant made four 3-pointers and Jones knocked down five as the Suns tied a season-high with 22 3-pointers (on 47 attempts).
The Suns shot 14 for 25 from 3-point range in the first half to build a 60-47 edge at the break. The Clippers erased that deficit less than seven minutes into the third quarter, taking a 66-65 lead on Leonard’s one-handed dunk. The Suns recovered to take an 83-78 advantage into the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
The Clippers face the Spurs in San Antonio on Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT.
