Second-half surge not enough as Phoenix Suns routed by L.A. Clippers

After the Phoenix Suns (46-33) were faced with a massive 37-point deficit in the first half, they had a huge second-half run, but couldn't overcome the hole they had dug for themselves. They lost 105-92 to the Los Angeles Clippers (51-28) on Tuesday.

This was the Suns' final home game of the season and third contest of the four-game season series against the Clippers, which have dominated them to win the first three. The loss also stung the Suns as they try to retain a playoff spot and avoid falling into the play-in.

The Suns fell into seventh in the West as the Pelicans moved to No. 6, improving to 47-32 after downing Portland Tuesday.

Kevin Durant scored 21 points and Bradley Beal had 19 to lead Phoenix, which shot a paltry 22.9% from the 3 and 33.7% overall. Devin Booker (12 points) couldn't find his shooting rhythm, going 1-for-11, including 0-for-4 from deep.

The Suns had their season-lowest 10 points to the Clippers' 37 to close the first quarter.

L.A. was without two stars, Kawhi Leonard (knee) and James Harden (foot), and had their other top players Paul George (game-high 23 points) and Russell Westbrook (16 points) led their balanced attack as all five of the team's starters scored in double figures.

The Suns face the Clippers again for the second of back-to-back games in Los Angeles on Wednesday, which begins Phoenix's season-ending three-game road trip.

Durant, Suns surge in 3rd quarter

Following Kevin Durant's mediocre 3-of-13 shooting in the first half, he came alive to put up 10 of his 16 points to help Phoenix cut L.A.'s 30-point lead to an 84-68 score at close the third.

The Suns finished on a 19-5 run after the third quarter’s midpoint, and outscored the Clippers, 35-18 in the period. That surge brought the crowd into a frenzy, as Eric Gordon (11 points) hit two of his three treys, and Bradly Beal produced seven of his nine points in the third.

Devin Booker (10 points) has struggled shooting all game hitting just 1-of-10 from the field, earning most of his points at the line (8-of-9).

Suns have no answers for Clippers in 2nd quarter

Phoenix continued to be dominated by L.A. in the second quarter and was down 66-33 at the intermission.

The Suns' Big 3 in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have combined for 14 points on an abysmal 4-of-25 shooting.

After a terrible first period outing, the Suns showed some signs of life as they scored 23 points in the second and committed just one of their total five turnovers, which the Clippers have converted to nine points.

L.A. has outhustled Phoenix on the glass, 36-17, led by Ivica Zubac's game-high 10 rebounds with his 13 points. The Another Clippers starter in Paul George (4-of-8 FG, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc) has matched Zubac's scoring total. Terance Mann (4-of-5 FG) and Russell Westbrook (4-of-6 FG) have nine points each, and Westbook has dished 12 assists.

The Clippers are shooting the lights out from deep as well (9-of-15).

Clippers rip through Suns in 1st quarter

The Footprint Center crowd was dumbfounded to witness the Suns' worst first-quarter performance of the season as L.A. blitzed to a 37-10 lead.

The Clippers hit 15-of-23, including 4-of-4, and outrebounded the Suns 20-4.

That score consisted of 11-0 in fast break points off the Suns’ four turnovers and 18-4 in the paint. It also included four dunks, including two open-floor dunks from Russell Westbrook, two at the basket from Ivica Zubac, and a alley-oop from Westbrook to Terance Mann.

The Suns shot a meager 2-of-19, 0-of-4 from deep, and the team's coach Frank Vogel called three timeouts to try and stop the bleeding. Those didn’t work to help the team regroup as the Clippers kept piling on the score.

After Drew Eubanks scored the Suns first two field goals at 9:43 and 6:26, they didn’t score a point until Devin Booker (four points) hit two free throws at 1:08 left.

Starting lineups

The Suns will start guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant at the three and four spots, and Drew Eubanks will replace the injured center Jusuf Nurkic.

The Clippers are opening with Russell Westbrook running the point for the injured James Harden, Paul George at the two, Terance Mann, Norman Powell is in for the sidelined Kawhi Leonard (knee), and Ivica Zubac at the five.

Clippers' Harden, Suns' Nurkic out

L.A. coach Ty Lue said in his pregame media session that James Harden (foot) won't suit up against Phoenix. Harden was listed as questionable during the afternoon after the initial Clippers injury report was released on Tuesday morning during the team's shootaround.

For Phoenix, Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) has been ruled out.

Injury reports: Suns' Nurkic questionable; Clippers' Leonard out

The Suns' starting big Jusuf Nurkic (right ankle sprain) is questionable to play, per the team's injury report. He's had chronic issues with his ankle this season, and most of his five games missed have been from that injury. The only other player on the Suns' injury report is Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) who's been out all season.

The Clippers will be without All-Star Kawhi Leonard (left knee inflammation), the team's leading scorer, for the fifth consecutive game. Backup guard Josh Primo (left ankle sprain) is also out, and backup big Daniel Theis (left thumb sprain) is questionable.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Clippers hand Suns second straight loss despite second-half surge