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Clippers vs. Suns Game Recap: Impressive effort from deep bench
The LA Clippers dropped a game at home, 122-108 to the visiting Phoenix Suns. But it was the effort from the reserves that was the story of the night.
Summary
With the Clippers having essentially locked up a 4/5 finish after their dominating win in Phoenix, the rematch against the Suns on the second night of a back to back seemed to be the one they’d use as an opportunity to get guys some rest.
Sure enough, prior to the game it was announced that all of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell would all sit out.
That meant primetime duty for the likes of Bones Hyland and Brandon Boston Jr. The Suns trotted out their full lineup with Jusuf Nurkic back after missing the last game.
And for about three and half quarters, the Clippers not only kept up with the Suns A-team, but actually had a lead. The Suns got serious though and that was all she wrote. But even so, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was pleased with the opportunity for some of the younger guys to get meaningful minutes.
“It was good to see Bones and Brandon get an opportunity to play and play at a high level for the most part,” Lue said after the game. “They competed, they scrapped, they played hard and had a chance. . .overall I thought they did a good job.”
It was Hyland’s offensive explosion along with Boston in a supporting role that helped power the Clippers to a halftime lead. They also led heading into the fourth quarter. Hyland gave the Clippers the lead at the half as he drilled a three-pointer before the buzzer.
It was his first set of meaningful minutes since a brief stretch in mid-March that included his 17-point, 11-assist game in a blowout win over the Chicago Bulls on the road.
Hyland finished with 37 points, four rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 43 minutes of play. He attempted to reach the 40-point mark for the first time in his career late in the fourth quarter, but the Suns were determined not to let that happen.
After the game, Hyland joked that he hadn’t seen defense like that against him with three guys jumping at him at the three-point line since he was in high school.
“When I seen all three of them, I’m like, ‘oh they’re definitely not trying to let me get 40,’” Hyland said. “Just playing free, just playing my game, going out there trying to win the game. My teammates just told me just go out there and be Bizzy. That’s just what I do, go out there and play freely.”
Boston was also given the opportunity to contribute in a big way, and for the most part he came through when called upon. There was a slight mistake late in the fourth quarter when he fouled Devin Booker shooting a three-point shot. That play ended being a catalyst for the Suns to surge ahead and grab the win.
But Boston also showed a level of comfort in playing on and off ball. He was able to consistently create his own offense in the halfcourt as well as move without the ball and act as a spot up shooting threat.
Boston finished with 23 points in what was his first real shot at meaningful action. He suffered a quad injury during training camp that kind of set him back all season, but he credited his time in the G League this season for helping him stay ready, get live game reps and be prepared for a moment like this.
“I love playing down there with those guys. Paul Hewitt, he’s a great coach, he’s never gonna take no BS so he’s gonna be on you,” Boston said. “Just keeping my confidence and my wind and my endurance up, I feel like it’s good for players that aren’t playing.”
Clippers vs. Suns Game Recap: Impressive effort from deep bench
David Yapkowitz