All-Star George, Mann Lead Clippers Past Suns 116–107

Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul, left, and Devin Booker, right, double-team Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Phoenix on Feb. 16, 2023. Darryl Webb/AP Photo

PHOENIX—Paul George and Terance Mann each scored 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 116–107 on Thursday night, Feb.  in the final NBA game before the All-Star break.

Kahwi Leonard added 16 points, all in the second half, and nine rebounds. Ivica Zubac and Eric Gordon each scored 13 points and Zubac had 12 rebounds.

The Suns missed nine of their first 10 3-point attempts, with only Josh Okogie warming up later in the game. Okogie led Phoenix with 24 points. He was 6 of 12 from behind the arc, but the rest of the Suns made five combined.

Devin Booker had 19 points and nine assists for Phoenix. Deandre Ayton scored 18 points and newcomer Terrance Ross had 16 points. Booker was 1 of 6 from 3-point range, but tied Steve Nash’s franchise record with 1,051 3s.

Chris Paul had 11 assists, two nights after having a season-high 19 against Sacramento.

The Clippers have scored 100 or more points in 20 of their last 21 games.

The loss was the Suns’ first against a Pacific Division opponent in 10 games, and the Clippers moved ahead of Phoenix into second place going into the All-Star break.

Los Angeles Clippers' Terance Mann (14) drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns' Torrey Craig, left, and Deandre Ayton during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Feb. 16, 2023. Darryl Webb/AP Photo

Turnover

The Suns won the first two meetings between the teams, both in Los Angeles, but the squads have undergone major changes since then.

The Clippers added guards Bones Hyland and Eric Gordon and backup center Mason Plumlee at last week’s deadline, while the Suns gave up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder to acquire Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said the Suns’ trio of Durant, Booker and Paul reminds him of going against Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson when Lue was coaching Cleveland in the NBA Finals.

“I don’t want to think about it,” Lue said about the Suns adding Durant to their rotation. “It’s a tough coverage, tough matchup. I’m interested to see how they play, how they share the basketball. But on paper it looks really good.”

New Guy

Ross joined the Suns for the game and made a quick impact, scoring a team-high seven points in the first quarter. Ross, a 6-foot-6 guard/small forward, was waived by Orlando as his contract was expiring after this season.

Ross, in his 11th NBA season, was averaging eight points in 22 minutes per game for the Magic.

Trainer’s Room

Los Angeles played without Norman Powell, who was resting his ailing right knee. “No bigger concerns,” Lue said of Powell resting the Clippers’ last game before the All-Star break. Phoenix remains without Durant (knee), Landry Shamet (foot) and Cameron Payne (foot).

By Jack Thompson