Suns Prove to Be a Cut Above Hapless Clippers in an Overtime Victory

Injured Clipper forward Kenny Fields put a finger to his throat and pretended to cut it as he walked out of the locker room.

Fields’ teammates had just finished cutting their own throats in a 128-123 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns Saturday night before an announced crowd of 8,305 at the Sports Arena.

The Clippers blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in extending their losing streak to five games.

Sun Guard Walter Davis scored 34 points, including 16 in the fourth period, before he fouled out in overtime. Davis sent the game into overtime 115-115 when he hit a 20-foot jumper with two seconds left.

The Clippers had a chance to win in regulation, but Mike Woodson, who led the Clippers with 32 points, missed a 30-foot hook shot at the buzzer.

Said Davis of his game-tying shot: “We had the ball out underneath the basket with eight seconds left, and I just got the ball and went the length of the court. I think Rory White tried to cut me off at the three-point line, but I went to my right, pulled up and shot it.

“I didn’t know how much time was left. All I knew was that once I got inside the three-point line, I was within my range.”

Said Clipper Coach Don Chaney: “We didn’t take away his (Davis’) right hand. We should have had three guys (covering him). We should have known that he wasn’t going to pass the ball.”

The Suns outscored the Clippers, 13-8, in overtime period to win their third straight game.

Larry Nance finished with 29 points, and Jay Humphries added 16 for the Suns (29-45).

The Clippers led, 105-95, with 5:11 left. However, the Suns scored eight consecutive points in less than a minute to cut the lead to 105-103 with 4:18 remaining.

The Suns started their run after a technical foul was called on Chaney.

Davis was fouled by Quintin Dailey and made a jumper after the foul had been called. The public address announcer incorrectly said the basket counted, and Chaney got the technical when he protested.

Davis hit the free throw after the technical and he made one of two free throws to cut it to 105-99.

After the Suns narrowed the margin to 105-103, the Clippers ran off seven straight points to take a 112-103 lead with 1:51 left.

Then it was the Suns’ turn to put together a seven-point run as they reduced the gap to 112-110 on a shot by Alvan Adams with 38 seconds left.

Woodson hit a shot with 21 seconds left to give the Clippers (12-61) a 114-110 lead, but Davis sank a 30-foot, three-point shot with 19 seconds left. Clipper center Tim Kempton then sank one of two free throws to give the Clippers a 115-113 lead, which Davis quickly erased.

Center Benoit Benjamin missed the game because of bronchitis but is expected to return for Monday night’s game against the Lakers.

Forward Michael Cage suffered a bruised lower back and a bruised right elbow when he had his legs cut out from under him in the first period. He sat out the second period, tried to play in third but had to sit down. He is on a day-to-day basis.

Clipper Notes

Injured Clipper forward Marques Johnson will have his arbitration case heard on April 15 in New York. Johnson is involved in a salary dispute with the team. The Suns got a technical foul with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third period for not having enough players on the floor.