Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 40-point victory over the Phoenix Suns
Clippers forward Jeff Green is fouled as he tries to shoot over Phoenix Suns forward Jon Leuer, right, and Mirza Teletovic during a Feb. 22 game at Staples Center.
The Clippers dominated from beginning to end against the hapless Phoenix Suns, winning 124-84 Monday night at Staples Center. Here are five takeaways from the game:
1. DeAndre in the driver’s seat
To watch DeAndre Jordan demand the ball down low and for the Clippers to feed him at will was an interesting twist on the game.
It was as if Jordan was intent on trying to destroy Suns center Alex Len. Jordan was physical with Len, banging him, pushing him, doing all he could to be a force. Jordan finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He blocked four shots.
“When he plays like that, he makes us really good defensively,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.
Jordan was six-for-nine from the field and five-for-11 from the free-throw line despite shooting an air ball from the line. Jordan, who is left-handed, even made a few running right-handed shots.
2. J.J. Redick got off to another good start for the Clippers.
Redick had eight of his 22 points in the first quarter. He was running off screens and beating his defender down court for wide-open shots.
“It was great to see J.J. get a quick start again,” Rivers said.
3. The Clippers’ defense easily stopped the Suns.
The Clippers limited the Suns to 35.2% shooting, 29.2% (seven-for-24) on three-pointers.
The 84 points the Clippers allowed was one more than their season low.
They had 10 blocked shots, four by Jordan, three by Cole Aldrich and one each by Wesley Johnson, Jeff Green and Alex Stepheson.
4. The bench blew an early lead
The Clippers had built a 19-point lead in the first quarter, their starters putting in work. Then their reserves entered the game and the lead was sliced to four points in the second quarter.
Rivers was not happy.
So he put his starters back in the game later in the second and the lead grew back to 17 points at the half. Rivers said his substitutes were more interested in scoring, not playing defense, and that’s why the lead evaporated.
5. Green showed why the Clippers acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies.
He had 18 points on six-for-10 shooting, three-for-four on three-pointers.
He also had five rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in 23:42.
broderick.turner@latimes.com
Twitter: @BA_Turner
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