Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Digi Mart USA News (Phoenix, Arizona): The Phoenix Suns (3-6) host the Los Angeles Clippers (2-7) tonight at 7:00 p.m. Arizona Time at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The game can be watched on Suns+ and 3TV/AZFS, and can be heard on KMVP 98.7.
The Suns need a quick turnaround after being dominated by Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, who won 122-96. Wembanyama scored 40 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked nine shots in 25 minutes.
The starters were pulled with 9:34 left in the game, and the Suns now play the second night of a back-to-back.
Phoenix is 2-2 on its seven-game homestand. Its two-game win streak over Houston and Orlando could be remembered as a setback or a building block, depending on the result tonight.
The game is considered a must-win for the Suns.
Probable starters for Phoenix are Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Oso Ighodaro. The Clippers are expected to start Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura and Brook Lopez.
Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal are out for Los Angeles, so the Clippers are expected to use the same five players who started Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Mark Williams is out for Phoenix after left shoulder surgery. Brandon Ingram is out with an Achilles injury, and Bradley Beal is out with a knee injury for the Clippers.
Booker went 10-for-17 for 32 points in the loss to San Antonio. The other four Phoenix starters combined for 27 points on 10-of-36 shooting, or 27.8 percent, and the team shot 39.3 percent overall.
The preview says Green, Brooks and Bridges must be stronger secondary options.
The Clippers snapped a seven-game losing streak on Sunday with a 139-123 win over New Orleans, with their bench scoring 59 points and adding 14 assists. Gradey Dick shot 6-for-7, and rookie Keaton Wagler made three of four three-pointers in 18 minutes.
Darius Garland scored 24 points with 10 assists against New Orleans, and Brook Lopez added 20 points.
Rebounding is viewed as a key to the game for Phoenix. San Antonio outrebounded the Suns 55-35 in the loss.
Los Angeles shot 55 percent from the field against New Orleans, made 16 of 38 three-pointers and recorded 34 assists against 11 turnovers.
In the previous game, Phoenix starters each finished between plus-2 and plus-9, while the bench helped the Suns pull away. Max Strus and Gradey Dick were each plus-17, Kobe Sanders was plus-15 and Keaton Wagler was plus-11.
The Clippers won the fourth quarter 37-28 in their previous game.
The preview also points to Collin Gillespie, who has had a difficult season, as a player who could help Phoenix with a strong performance. Jordan Goodwin is also back from injury.
The Clippers rank second in the NBA in three-point percentage and fourth in bench scoring.
The publisher predicts a Suns win, 127-115, as Phoenix bounces back with a stronger offensive performance.
