PHOENIX -- Protect your house. Simple.
A packed-out arena in downtown Phoenix, Arizona would have a plan of attack to try and energize their home team while disrupting the visiting team in every possible way. Guess what? It worked.
The Clippers came into the match up without their two best players Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Leonard is recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered against the Miami Heat on Monday, and Harden was ruled out for personal reasons. While they did show fight, the Clippers would fall to the Phoenix Suns 115-102. With the loss, they fell to 3-5 for the season.
Horrendous night for Bradley Beal
With the Clippers two leading scorers out, this would be a game for Clippers guard Bradley Beal to pick up the scoring load. This was Beal’s first game back in Phoenix after being dealt to the Clippers this past off-season.
In 20 minutes of play, Beal finished with 5 points while shooting 2-14 from the field. In the first half, many of Beal’s shots were in rhythm off a curls and screens it was just one of those bad shooting nights where the shots didn’t fall and no one knows it more than Beal himself.
“I’m still on minutes. I’m still finding my rhythm, still finding my way on the team. These are all building blocks and stepping stones for me. Obviously, you got to still execute and hit shots and get wins at the end of the day,” Beal stated.
He also continued with speaking on not being worried about the Suns crowd that spent all night “booing him”.
Bradley Beal getting BOOED in his return to Phoenix 😭 pic.twitter.com/6GaP7Xtrai
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) November 7, 2025
“I’m not worried about any other team or whatever that story is. I’m worried about my health, my teammates, making sure, I’m out there to the best of my abilities and I can contribute however I can.”
Clippers Head coach Tyron Lue has also made it clear that he remains fully confident in Beal.
“That's the most important thing, just getting to his spots. Getting there with pop, with pace and I thought he did a good job. He turned down a couple as well, but I thought he made some good passes, some good plays, and it's going to come with time. Just got to continue to stay with it, you can't get frustrated. There's going to be a process.”
Suns second half offensive explosion
The Clippers for much of the first half kept the game competitive, leading the Suns 51-48. Center Ivica Zubac would be much featured in the offense with Beal. Zubac finished the game with 23 points shooting 8-14 from the field while snagging 11 rebounds.
The Clippers were extremely active on defense, with guys like Kris Dunn and Cam Christie. However, that would wake the Suns up, and set up and explosion for the second half.
Suns guard Jalen Green, who made his debut, would surprisingly be the one leading the charge. With just 23 minutes of play, Green would finish with a game high 29 points shooting 50% from the 2 and 45% from the 3.
From that, the other Suns players Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Royce O'Neale would follow suit. An from that point forward, the Clippers wouldn’t catch up. The Suns outscored the Clippers 40-23 in the third quarter after the Clippers were leading at halftime.
"We didn't get to the shooters. We didn't get to the shooters."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 7, 2025
Clippers big Ivica Zubac as Suns shot 19-of-49 from 3 in 115-102 win.
Jalen Green 6-of-13
Royce O'Neale 5-of-10
Grayson Allen 4-of-9
Devin Booker 3-of-7.
On Bradley Beal 5-point night on 2-of-14 FGs (1-of-5 from… pic.twitter.com/orjzEjNmBR
Upcoming match up
In an 82-game season, teams have the opportunity, and that will come within the next 48 hours. The Clippers will face the Suns again on Saturday back in Inglewood at the Inuit Dome. By this time the Clippers should have Leonard and/or Harden back on the floor ready to go.