Clippers Crush Suns As Leonard Leads Road Rout

The Los Angeles Clippers stormed into the Mortgage Matchup Center on Sunday night, February 1, 2026, and delivered a statement win, overpowering the Phoenix Suns 117-93 before a sellout crowd of 17,071. This Western Conference clash, the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the two teams, wrapped up the season series at two games apiece and showcased the Clippers’ relentless energy and evolving roster depth.

Entering the contest, both squads were riding high. The Suns boasted a 30-19 record and a 17-6 mark at home, having won six of their last eight. Despite missing key stars—Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) and Jalen Green (right hamstring/left hip contusion)—Phoenix had managed a 3-0 record without Booker and recently snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers’ five-game winning streak with a 126-113 victory. Dillon Brooks, who averaged nearly 30 points over his last four outings, had become the team’s offensive spark plug in Booker’s absence. Grayson Allen and Mark Williams also stepped up, providing consistent scoring and rebounding.

The Clippers, meanwhile, arrived in Phoenix with a 22-25 record but had the NBA’s best mark since Christmas at 15-4. Their recent surge was fueled by Kawhi Leonard’s resurgence—averaging nearly 30 points per game since Thanksgiving weekend—and a supporting cast that had grown increasingly reliable. However, Los Angeles faced its own adversity, with James Harden ruled out for personal reasons, joining a lengthy injury list that included Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, TyTy Washington Jr., and Derrick Jones Jr.

From the opening tip, the Clippers imposed their will. Kawhi Leonard, snubbed from this year’s All-Star Game despite his scorching form, led all scorers with 25 points. He was ably supported by John Collins, who tallied 10 points by halftime and finished strong, continuing his run of solid performances as a regular starter. The Clippers’ starting lineup featured Kris Dunn, Kobe Sanders, Leonard, Collins, and Ivica Zubac—an arrangement that paid dividends on both ends of the floor.

By halftime, Los Angeles held a 49-43 lead, with Leonard already at 14 points and Collins at 10. The Clippers’ defense was stifling, holding the Suns to just 33.3% shooting from the field and dominating the glass. The rebounding disparity was eye-popping: the Clippers outrebounded Phoenix 63-35, and hammered the Suns in the paint, scoring 64 points down low. The visitors led by as many as 24 points, never allowing the Suns to find their rhythm.

On the other side, the Suns struggled to generate offense without Booker and Green. Grayson Allen led Phoenix with 23 points, while Brooks chipped in 22, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Suns’ starting five—Collin Gillespie, Allen, Brooks, Royce O’Neale, and Mark Williams—couldn’t overcome the Clippers’ physicality and depth. As the game wore on, Phoenix’s shooting woes persisted, and their inability to control the boards proved fatal.

“Book is making tremendous progress,” Suns coach Jordan Ott told reporters before the game. “Obviously, been on the court multiple times. Trending in a good spot and Jalen, it’s just the fall. The hamstring seemed to be good. Everything was good until that fall. We’re going to be smart here. Everyone saw the fall and how hard it was. Mechanically, we want everything to be right.” Ott emphasized there was no pressure on Green to rush his return, noting, “He just wants be out there. His teammates want him to be out there. We want him to be out there, but there’s no pressure from us. We want him back, we want him healthy. We want him with the speed that he has. Everything has to be right.”

Booker, who was scheduled for re-evaluation over the weekend, has a reputation for quick recoveries. “He just continues to progress,” Ott said. “He is skipping steps basically on how fast he can do it. I think this has been his history. He’s had other injuries and been able to recover incredibly fast, too.” The Suns’ next two games are on February 3 at Portland and February 5 against Golden State, offering little respite as they await the return of their stars.

For the Clippers, this victory was more than just another notch in the win column—it was a testament to their adaptability and resilience. With Harden out, Leonard became the focal point, and his leadership was evident. He’s been averaging 37.3 points, rebounds, and assists (PRA) on the year, and even in recent games with limited minutes, he’s shown the ability to take over. In this matchup, he delivered again, providing the offensive punch and defensive intensity that’s become his trademark.

John Collins continued his hot shooting, having averaged 2.7 three-pointers made over his last 12 games and consistently giving the Clippers another dimension on offense. Ivica Zubac anchored the paint, helping to limit Mark Williams, who’d been averaging 20 points and rebounds per game but had struggled to hit his prop lines in recent outings. The Clippers’ bench also contributed, maintaining the energy and intensity whenever the starters rested.

The Suns, despite their recent success without Booker, finally hit a wall. Brooks, who had scored at least 20 points in nine of 16 games the previous month and had been on a tear with PRA totals of 33, 32, 52, and 32 in his last four games, found the Clippers’ defense a tougher nut to crack. Allen’s 23 points were a bright spot, but the lack of support from the rest of the roster and the team’s poor shooting night spelled doom.

Looking ahead, the Clippers’ victory solidifies their status as one of the hottest teams in the league since Christmas and keeps them firmly in the Western Conference playoff hunt. The Suns, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly as they head to Portland, hoping for Booker’s return and a chance to regain their early-season form.

In a season defined by injuries and shifting lineups, Sunday night’s clash was a reminder that depth, defense, and determination can still swing the balance in the NBA. With the playoff race heating up, both teams will be eager to prove that this game was just another chapter in a rivalry that’s far from settled.