Suns Exposed in Paint as Clippers Dominate in 117-93 Rout
The Suns wrapped up their five-game homestand with a thud, falling 117-93 to a Clippers squad that brought physicality, discipline, and sheer dominance in the paint. Despite a promising start and a strong defensive effort on Kawhi Leonard early, Phoenix couldn't sustain it. This one wasn’t about a bad bounce or cold shooting streak - it was about getting beat at the core of the game.
Let’s start with the numbers that tell the story loud and clear: the Clippers outscored the Suns 64-18 in the paint. That’s not a typo.
It’s a full-on interior beatdown, anchored by Ivica Zubac, who bullied his way to a 14-point, 20-rebound double-double. He controlled the glass, clogged the lane, and made life miserable for any Suns player who dared venture inside.
Phoenix tried to counter with pace and perimeter shooting - and for a while, it worked. They hit 41% from deep on 46 attempts, spacing the floor and forcing the Clippers to stretch out their defense.
But when the threes stopped falling, there was no Plan B. The midrange game was nearly non-existent (a rough 9% on short midrange looks, 22% on long), and the paint was a no-go zone.
That’s a formula for frustration.
First Half: A Plan That Worked… Until It Didn’t
Early on, Phoenix showed signs of control. They bottled up Kawhi, cut off entry passes to Zubac, and stuck to their identity - quick pace, active hands, and a green light from deep.
Through the first ten minutes, the plan was working. Leonard was held to just 33% shooting on contested looks, and Zubac was barely touching the ball.
But while the Suns were focused on neutralizing the Clippers’ stars, the supporting cast made them pay. Collins and Sanders combined for 11 points late in the first quarter, exploiting the attention paid to Kawhi and Zubac.
Meanwhile, the Clippers began leaning into their size advantage. The Zubac-Lopez frontcourt tandem started asserting themselves, and it was clear Phoenix didn’t have an answer.
Despite forcing seven turnovers in the opening frame and playing solid defense, Phoenix trailed 24-20 after one. The issue?
Cold shooting - just 27% from the field. The looks were there, but the finishing wasn’t.
Then came the second-quarter surge from L.A. - a 15-2 run fueled by paint attacks and free throws. The Clippers were relentless inside, going 4-for-5 in the paint over that stretch and drawing fouls at will. Kawhi, in particular, lived at the line, taking nine free throws in the first half alone.
Phoenix responded with a brief burst - pushing the pace, getting stops, and knocking down threes to tie the game late in the second. They were trying to make up the free-throw disparity by generating extra possessions and maximizing shot value. It was a smart adjustment, but it couldn’t erase the damage already done.
By halftime, the Clippers led 49-43. The Suns had tightened up their defense and found their shooting rhythm, but the rebounding disparity (40 to 22) and foul trouble (13 free throws conceded to Kawhi alone) loomed large. L.A. had scored 36 of their 49 first-half points in the paint - a stat that perfectly captured Phoenix’s biggest problem.
Second Half: The Wheels Come Off
The third quarter brought more of the same - Clippers dominance inside, and Phoenix struggling to keep up. L.A. added some variety with timely perimeter shooting, but the real damage continued to come down low. Zubac kept cleaning the glass, the Clippers kept getting to the line, and the Suns couldn’t shift the momentum.
Phoenix actually shot better from three than from two - a rarity in today’s NBA. They hit 43% from deep but just 55% in the paint and an abysmal 12% from midrange.
That’s not just inefficient - it’s unsustainable. The offense became one-dimensional, and once the Clippers adjusted, the Suns had no counter.
By the end of the third, the Clippers were up 78-69. Zubac was already sitting on a monster double-double (11 points, 16 boards), Kawhi had 21 points, and the role players were executing Ty Lue’s game plan to perfection. The lead ballooned to 14 early in the fourth, and Phoenix never got closer.
The fourth quarter opened the same way it ended - at the free-throw line. The Clippers had already taken 28 free throws to Phoenix’s 12.
And while there were no gripes about officiating, the disparity wasn’t just a stat - it was a symptom of Phoenix’s interior issues. Too much contact, too many late rotations, and a lack of rim protection.
Mark Williams fouling out with six minutes left felt like a microcosm of the night. Overmatched, overworked, and ultimately overwhelmed. His ejection was symbolic - frustration boiling over as the game slipped further out of reach.
Garbage time gave some of the Suns’ young players a chance to get minutes, but the outcome was long decided. The Clippers rolled to a 117-93 win, handing Phoenix its second straight Sunday loss and exposing some deep structural flaws in the process.
Takeaways: More Than Just a Bad Night
This wasn’t just a tough loss - it was a revealing one. The Suns were outmuscled, out-rebounded, and outscored in the paint by a wide margin. They conceded 34 free throws, lost the rebounding battle 82 to 41, and couldn’t generate consistent offense inside the arc.
Grayson Allen (23 points, 8 assists) and Dillon Brooks (22 points) did what they could, but it wasn’t enough to offset the Clippers’ physicality and execution. Ty Lue’s adjustments - particularly in how L.A. attacked the Suns’ soft spots - were spot-on.
Phoenix has talent. They have shooters.
They have a system. But nights like this raise real questions about their ability to handle physical, playoff-style basketball.
Until they find answers in the paint - both offensively and defensively - they’ll remain vulnerable to teams that bring size and force.
Sunday’s loss wasn’t just about missed shots or bad luck. It was about getting beat where it matters most - in the trenches.