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Friday, Apr. 14 10:00pm ET
Skiles: Suns not intense enough yet | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
PHOENIX (AP) -- A 24-point victory over the Los Angeles Clippers wasn't enough to satisfy Phoenix coach Scott Skiles. After Friday night's 112-88 victory, the Clippers 15th straight loss, Skiles said he still believes his team's recent efforts are far short of what they will need in the playoffs. "I was grateful that the bench guys got a lot of minutes, but I'm still not satisfied the way we've played any of the last three games really," Skiles said. "We need a better effort all the way around, more of an effort like we had against Sacramento four games ago." Despite their coach's concerns, the Suns have won four in a row, two of them against the Clippers, and have a two-game lead over San Antonio with three to play in the race for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Rodney Rogers scored 22, Shawn Marion 20 and Cliff Robinson 17 for the Suns, who outscored the Clippers by an average of 104-81 in their four-game sweep of the season series. "It's the same old story all year long," said the Clippers' Eric Piatkowski. "Our defensive transition is terrible." Tyrone Nesby scored 21 for Los Angeles, but only two in the second half. Michael Olowokandi had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers. Lamar Odom scored 14. The Suns had sputtered in their previous two victories over the Clippers and Vancouver. This one was easier, although the Suns didn't turn it into a blowout until well into the second half. Rogers said it's tough to get motivated for the Clippers, a team he played for the previous four seasons. "I mean, you can't underestimate them, but you've just got to go out and play," Rogers said. "Sometimes it's hard to get up for those games but you've got to find a way to do it. The coach is not satisfied with what happened tonight, but we got the win." Phoenix never trailed and led 52-40 at the half. The Suns shot out to a 16-5 lead. The Clippers, who have lost to Phoenix 10 consecutive times, cut it to 24-23 with an 11-2 run, then the Suns reeled off 10 in a row to go up 34-23 on Oliver Miller's stuff with 10:13 left in the half. Miller's three-point play put the Suns ahead 66-50 with 6:38 left in the third quarter. Miller scored seven points in his first appearance in three games and first significant playing time in six. "The only thing I can say is whenever my name is called I have to be ready to play," Miller said. "I'm going to be professional about it and just go out every day and work hard and do everything I can to help this team win." Robinson scored 13, Marion 12 and Rogers 10 in the first half. Nesby scored 19 in the first half, 14 in the first quarter. But the rest of the Clippers were ice cold. Los Angeles shot 28 percent (11-for-39) in the first half. Coach Jim Todd said the Clippers sorely missed Maurice Taylor and Derek Anderson, both out with minor injuries. "We didn't know where we were going to manufacture points," Todd said. "We were a little shorthanded to say the least." Game notesThe Suns' Kevin Johnson missed his second consecutive game with a groin strain. He may return for Sunday's game against Utah. ... Taylor had a sore left ankle and Anderson lower back spasms. ... If Utah wins at San Antonio on Saturday, the Suns can clinch the first-round homecourt advantage by beating the Jazz on Sunday. ... Phoenix has the third-best home record in the NBA at 32-7. ... The Clippers have the league's worst road record, 4-36. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard LA Clippers Clubhouse Phoenix Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 106 Chicago 91
Phoenix 112
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