NBA Game Summary - LA Clippers at Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Paul nearly recorded a triple-double and the Los Angeles Clippers continued to control their division rival, the Phoenix Suns.
Paul posted 23 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in the Clippers' sixth straight win over the Suns, a 120-100 decision on Sunday.
Blake Griffin also contributed 23 points, while J.J. Redick chipped in with 20 points and DeAndre Jordan deposited an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Los Angeles has won four straight overall.
Isaiah Thomas paced the Suns with 25 points, Eric Bledsoe had 17 points with seven assists and Alex Len added 15 points in the loss.
"Until we show these referees that we are not going to argue, they are going to continue to do this," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek noted of his team's recent bout with technical fouls.
Markieff Morris, who entered the game second in the NBA in technical fouls, received another technical in the third quarter of this one. Phoenix had two such fouls called in its last game.
Los Angeles brought a 12-point lead into the fourth, but Phoenix opened the quarter on an 11-3 run. Thomas scored eight points during the run to help the Suns cut their deficit to 92-88.
It was a two-point spread following a Gerald Green 3-pointer just over a minute later. However, the Clippers made sure they claimed victory by ripping off 15 straight points. Redick closed the surge with a pair of free throws that pushed Los Angeles ahead 111-94 with under four minutes left.
"(The Suns) are one of those teams that are never out of a game," Paul said. "It was good that we put them away."
Paul and Griffin combined for nine points during a 13-3 run midway through the third. Paul capped it with a jumper for a 74-65 lead.
Spencer Hawes then buried consecutive 3-pointers, each assisted by Paul, later in the third to stretch Los Angeles' margin to 85-72.
The Clippers entered the second quarter with a 23-16 advantage, then Jamal Crawford stretched the margin to double digits with a layup around 3 1/2 minutes in.
Los Angeles held a 10-point lead on a couple of occasions during the period until the Suns used a 14-4 run to tie the game at 43-43. Marcus Morris and Goran Dragic accounted for 21 points in the second to help Phoenix, which shot 63.6 percent in the frame, grab a 57-55 lead at the half.