Suns top Western Conference over 106-89 win against Clippers

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The Phoenix Suns reached the top of the Western Conference after beating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-89 in a Thursday NBA game.

Chris Paul inspired the Suns to the home win, posting a triple-double.

The 36-year-old point guard tallied 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists at Footprint Center.

Suns' small forward Cameron Johnson was the highest scorer for his team with 24 points.

Phoenix's Jalen Smith scored 19 points and took 14 rebounds, and Suns star Devin Booker had 11 points and had 10 rebounds.

Marcus Morris Sr. of the Clippers was the game's highest scorer as he clocked up 26 points.

Reggie Jackson scored 16 points for the Clippers.

Clippers pair Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Boston Jr. added 10 points each.

By the end of the third quarter, the Clippers were nine points behind the Suns, 66-75.

With 5:14 remaining to the final buzzer, Morris Sr. scored from the free throw line after a jump shot that he hit as the Clippers narrowed the gap to four points, 83-87.

Right after, experienced guard Paul hit a three pointer to extend the lead for the Suns 90-83.

After a layup and a dunk, Phoenix made the gap double digits, 94-83 as they have never looked back, and dominated the rest of the game.

The Suns were the victors by 106-89.

Phoenix earned their 30th win in the 2021-22 campaign to lead the Western Conference. They previously lost eight others.

The Clippers are now in the eighth position in the West.

The Los Angeles team have a 19-20 win/loss record this season.

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are in the second spot in the West standings.

The Warriors are going 29-9 after a 101-96 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

- Jazz star Gobert enters COVID-19 protocols

Utah Jazz's French star Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus to be placed on the NBA's Health and Safety Protocols.

The Jazz reported the injured and sick players on Twitter as the Western Conference team's center Gobert, 29, was among the ineligible players for health protocols.

He joined his Australian teammate Joe Ingles, who was also out of action for the same reason.

Gobert previously tested positive for COVID-19 on March 11, 2020, which caused a temporary shut down in the NBA's 2019-20 season for several months.

Due to a positive PCR test result on Thursday, Gobert cannot play for the Jazz in a Friday game against the Toronto Raptors in Canada.

- Results:

New York Knicks - Boston Celtics: 108-105

Memphis Grizzlies - Detroit Pistons: 118-88

New Orleans Pelicans - Golden State Warriors: 101-96

Phoenix Suns - Los Angeles Clippers: 106-89