16Jan/081:13 AM

Clippers beat Suns in LA giving Division lead to the Lakers

By Steve Fan

(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas) May I have your attention please? Will the real Phoenix Suns please stand up?

The Suns, highest-scoring team in the NBA (over 110 points a game), faced the Clippers, the lowest (a little more than 90 a night), on Tuesday night and lost 97-90.

Phoenix trailed most of the game but, unlike what happened on a few occasions recentely, failed to come back and lost a game in which they have been outshot (52.5% to 40.7%) and outrebounded (47 to 36).

The Suns played poorly on both side of the court as the offense never really clicked. The Clippers - don’t forget they’re missing some key players like Elton Brand- were able to slow the game down the way they had planned. And it’s the second time it has happend this season but on Dec. 28th the Suns were able to prevail anyway.

Sam Cassell, still solid at 38, scored 32 points (15-of-21 from the field) to lead the Clippers who also got 21 from Maggette. Kaman, always having a tough time when facing STAT, shot just 3-for-15 but was able to grab 18 rebounds.

Stoudemire, who always does well against the Clippers, led the Suns with 29 point (11-of-22) while Marion added 14 points and 17 rebounds.

The Suns backcourt had a so-so game as Nash (14 points, 13 assists) and Bell (13 points) couldn’t take over the game, even if Steve actually tried on a couple of Suns runs.

With the loss, the Suns (26-12) have been knocked out of first place by the Lakers (26-11). The two teams will face each other at the Staples on Thursday night (8:30 PM) as the Lakers (without Andrew Bynum, expected to be out at least 8 weeks), riding a 7-game winning streak, will try to extend the lead.

Yours truly, Steve Fan