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More Clippers NewsClippers LinksSuns hang on, top Clippers Associated Press Los Angeles Clippers guard Quentin Richardson (left) can only watch as Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion dunks the ball during Saturday's game. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Tyers The Arizona Republic Mar. 24, 2002 LOS ANGELES - The Suns spent the better part of their six-game losing streak digging themselves into a crater and clawing their way back to the top, only to fall short. They changed the script 180 degrees against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, building themselves a nice mountain and then hanging on for their lives to keep from sliding off. Shawn Marion, who had 32 points and 14 rebounds, and Dan Majerle's three clutch three-point shots not only kept them from the cliff's edge but allowed them to snap their losing streak with a 97-94 win over the Clippers. In a situation that only makes sense in the NBA, it was the Suns, who are out of serious playoff contention, and not the Clippers, who fell to 2 ½ games behind Utah for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, who came out like a team in playoff contention. They doubled up the Clippers' 13 first-quarter points, thanks in part to a 12-0 advantage in second-chance points, and extended the lead to 16 midway through the second period before the Clippers narrowed it to 49-40 at halftime. Marion, who was questionable for the game because of back spasms, had 18 first-half points, and guard Marbury ran the Suns offense almost perfectly. But it was a surprisingly solid effort by the Suns' Jake Tsakalidis against Michael Olowokandi that neutralized the Clippers' inside game. Tsakalidis had eight points, six rebounds and two blocks, and Olowokandi had 10 first-half points but was limited to just four boards and no rebounds. Clippers teammate Elton Brand was held to 0-for-4 shooting. The Suns' slide began over a 4:34 stretch in the third period, when the Clippers turned a 62-50 Suns lead into a tie at 64 on Eric Piatkowski's acrobatic, running jumper. The run coincided with Tskalidis picking up three quick fouls within 1:24 and having to take a seat. The Suns started standing around offensively, either going one-on-one too much or settling for long-distance attempts. They managed to exit the third period with a 70-66 lead, thanks to a bucket by Marion and a three-pointer by Majerle. A pair of threes by Majerle early in the fourth period, when the Clippers crept back within two and one, kept Suns from letting the Clippers get the lead. |
