Suns Stun Clippers with Epic Comeback Victory on March 4

PHOENIX, AZ — The Phoenix Suns staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 23-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-117 at Footprint Center on Tuesday night.

Trailing by 19 points entering the fourth quarter, the Suns erupted for a 43-22 scoring advantage in the final period, fueled by standout performances from Kevin Durant and Collin Gillespie. Durant led all scorers with 34 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while the backup guard Gillespie contributed 10 points, all in the crucial fourth quarter.

The victory not only snaps a losing streak for the Suns, improving their record to 29-33, but also reignites their playoff hopes. They are now chasing the 32-30 Dallas Mavericks for the final play-in tournament spot.

The game started strongly for the Clippers, who jumped out to an 11-4 lead. However, the Suns responded, taking control and leading 30-24 after the first quarter. The second quarter saw the Clippers dominate, outscoring Phoenix 41-19 and heading into halftime with a substantial 65-49 lead.

Despite being seemingly in control, the Clippers faced a strong challenge in the fourth quarter. After a three-pointer by James Harden gave the Clippers an 89-66 lead late in the third, the tide began to turn. Phoenix responded with a three-pointer by Devin Booker, beginning their comeback.

“That fourth quarter was all about heart for us,” Durant said. “We’ve faced adversity before, but this was a special moment for our team.”

With the score tied at 108 with 3:50 left, the teams traded baskets. Phoenix edged out the Clippers, scoring 11 points to LA’s 9 down the stretch. Gillespie’s three-pointer with just 36 seconds left sealed the game at 119-114 before the Clippers had their final chances to tie.

James Harden, who tallied a career-high 35 points and 15 assists for the Clippers, expressed disappointment in the loss. “We played strong for three quarters. We just couldn’t finish it,” he said.

Ivica Zubac also had a standout performance with 35 points and nine rebounds, while Harden and Kawhi Leonard contributed 21 points each. Despite being outscored 50-25 by the Suns’ bench, the Clippers’ strong start and first-half performance elicited optimism for the team’s playoff aspirations.

“This is a tough loss for us, especially in the playoff race,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “We showed we can compete, we just need to close out games.”

The Clippers will host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, while the Suns will travel to face the Denver Nuggets on Friday.