George scores 33 points, Clippers snap Suns’ winning streak

<p>LOS ANGELES &mdash; Paul George scored 33 points, Kawhi Leonard added 27 and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns 113-103 on Thursday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>George was 7 of 9 from 3-point range in 30 minutes in his eighth 30-point game of the season. His season high of 39 points was against Phoenix on Jan. 3. The Clippers made 18 3-pointers, which is the 12th time this season they have made 18 or more in a game.</p>
<p>Leonard scored 19 points in the second half to help the Clippers end of the Suns’ winning streak at seven. Los Angeles trailed 67-61 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter before coming back with an 8-2 run to tie it.</p>
<p>LA led 83-81 at the end of the third quarter before opening the fourth with a 10-2 run to seize control. Its largest lead was 16 points late in the fourth.</p>
<p>Rajon Rondo, who was acquired from Atlanta near the deadline, added 15 points for the Clippers, who are 5-2 during a season-long, nine-game homestand. Even more important, they are assured of taking the season series from the Suns, which would give them a key tiebreaker if both teams would tie at the end of the regular season.</p>
<p>Phoenix, which was coming off a big overtime victory over NBA-leading Utah on Wednesday night, didn’t have enough down the stretch. Devin Booker led the way with 24 points, and Mikal Bridges had 20.</p>
<p>The Suns made 27 of their first 40 shots but were 9 of 31 after their hot start. They were 1 1/2 games behind Utah, but the Jazz’s 19-point win over Portland puts them down 2 1/2 for the conference’s top spot.</p>
<p>EARLY NIGHT</p>
<p>Clippers guard Patrick Beverley was ejected with 7:01 remaining for a Flagrant 2 foul against Chris Paul. </p>
<p>Replay determined that Beverley’s shoulder check and extended elbow against Chris Paul on a fast break was an unnecessarily hard and excessive foul.</p>
<p>Marcus Morris Sr. was ejected late after picking up a pair of technical fouls in the fourth quarter.</p>
<p>TIP INS</p>
<p>Suns: The Suns are 9-3 this season when playing on the second night of a back-to-back.</p>
<p>Clippers: LA has won 13 straight over the Suns at Staples Center. … DeMarcus Cousins played eight minutes in his LA debut on Tuesday, but did not see action Thursday. </p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Suns: Host Washington on Saturday to start a five-game homestand.</p>
<p>Clippers: Host Houston on Friday. </p>
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