With Ty Lue back after missing three games due to COVID-19 protocols, the Clippers’ chances at achieving an upset win against the team that eliminated them in last year’s playoffs seemed decent. However, though Suns missed DeAndre Ayton’s inside presence, the star power of Devin Booker and Chris Paul proved to be too much, resulting in a 106-89 loss on the road.
The first quarter was not the prettiest, characterized by a below-40 percent shooting performance by both teams. However, the Clippers did stand out on the defensive end, with a total of three steals and one block in that period alone.