RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- For the second time this month, the Los
Angeles Clippers extended one of the NBA's best teams to overtime
at home and walked away frustrated.
|  | | The Suns' Clifford Robinson drives for a first-half layup against the Clippers. |
Shawn Marion scored 16 of his 26 points after the third period
and Clifford Robinson had 25 points as the Phoenix Suns blew a
17-point fourth-quarter lead before beating the Los Angeles
Clippers 95-89 in overtime Saturday night for their third straight
victory and 10th in 12 games.
"We had opportunities to close out the game, but they are a
good squad with a lot of athletes and they were able to clip away
at our lead," Marion said. "We relaxed for a quick second, and
that was all they needed to get back into it."
The Pacific Division leaders beat Los Angeles for the 12th
straight time and 15th time in 17 meetings. The Clippers haven't
beaten the Suns since March 18, 1997, at Phoenix, and have lost
eight straight to them at home since winning in overtime on Dec.
16, 1996, at the Sports Arena.
The Suns have allowed fewer than 100 points in 14 consecutive
games, including the final game of last season.
Lamar Odom had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the youthful
Clippers, who committed 29 turnovers and lost their fourth straight
despite one of their grittiest comebacks in recent memory. On Nov.
8, they lost a 93-87 overtime decision to the Midwest
Division-leading Utah Jazz after trailing by 10 in the third
quarter.
"We're playing the same game all season -- get in a hole and try
to dig ourselves out," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "We are
not consistent, and it's hard to beat a team of that caliber if
we're not playing consistent."
After the Clippers tied it three times in the final 1:24 of the
fourth, Marion missed a 3-point attempt in the final second that
would have given Phoenix the victory in regulation. But he scored
the first two baskets of a 7-0 run that opened the overtime, and
Mario Elie's 3-pointer made it 89-82 with 2:51 remaining.
"Mario gave us a huge lift tonight," coach Scott Skiles said.
"He made some clutch shots and bailed us out when we were in
jams."
Eric Piatkowski was fouled by Elie on a 3-point try and sank
three free throws to trim Phoenix's lead to 90-87 with 1:31 left.
But Piatkowski made two costly turnovers on errant passes to seal
the Clippers' fate.
"We're just one step away," rookie Keyon Dooling said. "We
just need to keep playing hard and everything will come together."
The Clippers, who never led after the first 3:51 of the game,
scored 15 consecutive points during a 3:19 span of the fourth
quarter to slice a 16-point deficit to 75-74 with 3:15 remaining.
Dooling helped fuel the rally with seven points and fellow rookie
Darius Miles capped it with a 22-footer.
"They were able to get back into the game because they turned
up their defensive pressure," Robinson said. "We knew they were
going to make a run. We just didn't know when."
Elie's 3-pointer from the left sideline put the Suns up by four,
but Miles slammed down Dooling's alley-oop pass and Piatkowski sank
two free throws to tie the score at 78.
"We did the right things defensively," Piatkowski said. "We
were hustling, rebounding and doing things the right way."
The Suns did not get a field goal in the final 3:38 of the
third. But Marion, a second-year forward who entered the game
averaging a team-high 18.8 point points, scored Phoenix's last
eight points of a 12-7 run that opened the fourth quarter and gave
the Suns a 75-59 cushion with 7:21 left in the period.
Robinson's 17 points paced the Suns to a 45-38 halftime lead.
Los Angeles fell behind by 17 points before rallying with a 15-2
run that trimmed the deficit to 34-30 with 6:11 left in the second
quarter.
Game notes
Suns guard Penny Hardaway, on the injured list since Oct.
30, underwent diagnostic arthroscopic surgery Saturday on his left
knee. It revealed a piece of frayed cartilage in the joint. He
isn't expected back for another 3-4 weeks. ... Elie turns 37 on
Sunday. ... Half of the Suns' 10 victories have been by margins of
six points or less. ... The Clippers' 58-36 margin on the boards
marked the 12th time in 14 games that they have outrebounded their
opponents. Last season they accomplished it only 22 times.
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NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 79
New York 75
Charlotte 109
Cleveland 98
Houston 91
Miami 80
Orlando 114
Atlanta 92
Dallas 108
Denver 84
Washington 107
Milwaukee 100
San Antonio 96
Philadelphia 76
Portland 86
New Jersey 84
Golden State 114
Minnesota 93
Phoenix 95
LA Clippers 89
Sacramento 125
Seattle 101
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