On Saturday, the LA Clippers announced their 3v3 City of Stars All-Star Alliance Tournament, which will see the teams that win each division win tickets to the 2026 All-Star Game at Intuit Dome. Registration is open to everyone through December 6: www.clippers.com/3v3

🚨 NEW: The LA Clippers usually wait 10 to 15 games before making any sweeping decisions. But there might not be time to wait that long this year. And starting John Collins, according to data, could be one of the two moves they should possibly entertain. 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/john-colli...

Bradley Beal hurt his left hip in the second quarter of Saturday's game, but did start the third quarter wherein he scored 8 points in the frame, Beal's highest-scoring quarter thus far this season.

Hawks injury report for Monday in LA: Jalen Johnson (right quad contusion) is questionable. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (low back spasm) is questionable. Nikola Đurišić (right elbow sprain) is out. Trae Young (knee) remains out.

Kawhi Leonard (right ankle sprain), as expected, remains OUT for tomorrow's game against Atlanta. Bradley Beal (left hip soreness) and Jordan Miller (left hamstring strain) are QUESTIONABLE. Yanic Konan Niederhäuser and Jahmyl Telfort are both OUT due to G League participation.

The defensive drop off from the Clippers to start this season compared to last season is beyond staggering, even when just talking about the pure eye test versus numbers. The numbers are, quite frankly, horrific. But the tape is arguably worse.

🚨 NEW: Did you see the LA Clippers game on Tuesday? What about Thursday? Then you already saw Saturday’s, which ended in another loss to the Phoenix Suns. It was the same story afterward: promises it’ll be fine. But words are words. What’s needed is action. 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/same-clipp...

🚨 NEW: Did you see the LA Clippers game on Tuesday? What about Thursday? Then you already saw Saturday’s, which ended in another loss to the Phoenix Suns. It was the same story afterward: promises it’ll be fine. But words are words. What’s needed is action. 🔗 justinrusso.substack.com/p/same-clipp...

James Harden declined to speak with media following tonight’s game, which was understandable considering how sick Harden appeared to be. The guard was coughing and moving slowly in the locker room after playing 41 minutes this evening following being questionable with an illness.

Nicolas Batum, on how the Clippers get better on defense: “Discipline. That’s it. You got to keep working. It’s discipline. It’s easy to say, but that’s pretty much it.”

Tyronn Lue, on giving up a lot of 3s yet again and how they can’t let this snowball into something even worse: “We’ve been through it before. We’re not gonna let go of the rope. We’re gonna be in good shape. … We’re gonna be fine.”

Tyronn Lue, for roughly 90 seconds postgame on the defensive rebounding issues that plagued the Clippers tonight (Phoenix had 13 offensive rebounds):

Final: Suns 114, Clippers 103. Clippers are 3-6, the same record they started 2023-24 with. Whatever ails them won’t be fixed just by Kawhi Leonard returning. It runs deeper than that, that’s for sure. Ivica Zubac had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Clippers host Atlanta on Monday.

Say what you want about Nicolas Batum, but this dude is absolutely hauling ass on the court in this fourth quarter. Batum's made three 3s in the frame and just had a massive chasedown block of Dillon Brooks. Clippers trail Suns, 106-101.

Tonight is the 7th time this season that the LA Clippers have allowed an opponent to make at least 15 3-pointers. That's tied with the Washington Wizards for the most in the NBA.

Back-to-back massive 3s from Nicolas Batum has brought the Clippers back within 98-93 of the Suns with 5:48 to play.

Phoenix is killing the Clippers on the offensive glass, even when the Clippers have two bigs out there in Brook Lopez and John Collins. The Suns have registered 13 offensive rebounds and cashed them in for 17 points. Above all else, that seems to be the difference.

James Harden assisted on 18 of the Clippers' 34 third-quarter points.

End Q3: Suns 85, Clippers 80. Clippers have fought back from down 18 in the third to make this a game. Four players are in double-figures, led by Ivica Zubac's 15 points and 11 rebounds. All other Clippers have 9 total boards. Devin Booker has 18-9-9 for Phoenix.

Technical foul on Devin Booker.

Ivica Zubac: 11 rebounds Rest of the Clippers starting lineup: 0 rebounds

Clippers challenged a foul on Derrick Jones Jr. that had resulted in a Devin Booker and-one. Challenge was successful. No foul on Jones, and, in fact, it has been overturned into an offensive foul on Booker. Clippers retain their challenge, trailing 77-67.

Devin Booker has 18 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. Booker has never had a regular-season triple-double, but does have one in the playoffs: June 20, 2021, against the LA Clippers.

Bradley Beal checks out for Cam Christie. Beal has reached 20 minutes, which has been his minutes restriction to start this season, and has a season-high-tying 12 points.

There's a such a different energy on offense for this Clippers offense when they actually move with a purpose and get into their sets early. Each of the last three possessions did exactly that. No dwindling of the clock, no standing around. They moved with purpose. 8-0 run.

With 4:00 to go in the second quarter, the Clippers trailed the Suns, 47-45, and were in possession of the ball. James Harden missed a 3-pointer that would have given the Clippers the lead. Since then, it's been a 22-6 run by Phoenix in 6:58 of action.

Clippers are 2-for-17 on 3s. Phoenix is 10-for-22. Clippers are a paltry 7-for-14 from the line. They trail the Suns by 18 in the third quarter, and the smattering of boos has started from the Intuit Dome crowd as a fourth straight loss appears to be in the cards this evening.

Bradley Beal is starting the second half.

Clippers gave up 10 3s in the first half to Phoenix and were 1-for-14 themselves from downtown. The Clippers have allowed opponents to make 17+ 3s in a game a league-high-tying 5 times. Tonight seems well on the way to a league-high 6th occurrence.

Halftime: Suns 60, Clippers 46. Phoenix ends the half on a 13-1 run. An abject disaster to close the quarter as the Clippers didn't make a shot in the final 5 minutes.

Bradley Beal (left hip soreness) is questionable to return.

Clippers are 1-for-12 on 3s and 7-for-12 at the line in this first half. Trail 49-46.

Clippers and Suns have played 6:41 in the second quarter. It's a 13-12 Clippers advantage in the frame, but here's how it got there: 6-0 LAC run 6-0 PHX run 7-0 LAC run 6-0 PHX run They do indeed say basketball is a game of runs.

Something you don't see every day: John Collins throwing a transition lob to Ivica Zubac.

James Harden has had 4 isolation possessions so far tonight, per tracking data. All 4 have ended in a Harden shot attempt. Harden is 3-for-6 overall with 8 points as we sit here tied at 35-35 with 9:53 left in the second quarter.

End Q1: Suns 35, Clippers 29. James Harden had 8 points, Devin Booker with 9 for Phoenix. Clippers shot 62%, Suns 59%.

Jalen Green is holding his right hamstring and can't move up the floor, which led to Phoenix committing a foul. Green is limping to the Suns locker room as staffers make sure he's doing so without putting weight on his leg.

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser had 10 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in the San Diego Clippers' G League opener. Niederhäuser was a +22.

Cam Christie, on the back of how he finished the game on Thursday night, is getting first quarter minutes for the Clippers for the second game in a row.

James Harden and Dillon Brooks are being quite chatty to one another to start this game, much like the last time they played in this building.

Tyronn Lue, to SCNG's Janis Carr, on team’s attitude: “We gotta play better. We gotta do things better, starting with the coaches and everybody. We all gotta look ourselves in the mirror and gotta be better. But no reason to panic. I still love this team. We’re gonna be good.”

Tyronn Lue, on if he thinks his team talks enough on defense: “We have to be better. … I think [Ivica Zubac] does a good job. It’s more so our guards, I think, because the way we defend. ... We gotta be a loud communicating team. That’s the only way defense is gonna work.”

Tyronn Lue, on the pathway for Cam Christie and the young guys getting minutes: “Just their intensity, their effort, energy, which we need. We’ll see. They did a good job. … They’ll get opportunities. When you get your opportunity, you gotta take advantage of it.”

Tyronn Lue, on Kawhi Leonard’s present status: “He’s gonna miss the next few games. But nothing serious and we’ll just evaluate it from there.” When asked if it was a high ankle sprain: “Ankle sprain.”

Clippers starters tonight: James Harden Bradley Beal Kris Dunn Derrick Jones Jr. Ivica Zubac

James Harden will play tonight, says Tyronn Lue.

Tyronn Lue said that Kawhi Leonard is going to miss the next few games with his ankle injury but that it's not something that the team deems to be a serious ailment.

James Harden (illness) has been downgraded to QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game.

For anyone going to Suns-Clippers tonight: official tip time will be 7:42 PM PT.

🚨 The LA Clippers have been bad to start this season. How bad? Well, that’s a scary question with a frightening answer. I looked at the data from last season and compared it just to see. The Clippers need to take a look in the mirror and fix the problem. 🔗: justinrusso.substack.com/p/clippers-p...