LOS ANGELES —
Devin Booker scored 35 points, Chris Paul became the third player in NBA history to succeed in 11,000 assists, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-95 on Sunday night.
The Suns didn’t waste any time getting began on the blowout. They raced to an 11-0 lead from the opening tip and led by 20 points at halftime and again within the third.
Marcus Morris scored 22 points, John Wall added 17 points and Paul George had 16 points within the Clippers’ home opener after winning their first two games on the road. Kawhi Leonard had 11 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench in his second game of the season.
Paul assisted on the Suns’ first basket of the sport, a 3-pointer by Booker. Paul followed with an alley-oop pass to Deandre Ayton, who dunked, to offer him 11,000 assists.
Paul joined John Stockton and Jason Kidd because the only players in NBA history with that many assists. Paul also became the primary player within the league with 20,000 points and 11,000 assists.
Stockton had 15,806 assists and Kidd, now coach of the Dallas Mavericks, had 12,091.
Fittingly, Paul reached the mark against the Clippers, with whom he played for six seasons and is the franchise’s profession assists leader.
Paul finished with seven points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Last season, the Clippers overcame deficits of a minimum of 24 points 4 times.
Not this time.
The Clippers got no closer than 10 points on a 3-pointer by George late within the third. Booker and Cameron Payne scored to send the Suns into the fourth leading 86-72.
The Clippers were called for offensive fouls on Luke Kennard and Ivica Zubac after getting inside 12 early in the ultimate quarter.
Cam Johnson, former Clipper Landry Shamet and Booker hit consecutive 3-pointers that stretched the Suns’ result in 99-81, sending the gang to the exits.
TIP-INS
Suns: Shamet (left hip strain) and Johnson (right hip contusion) each returned.
Clippers: Reggie Jackson stays limited by a groin injury. He was scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting. … George and Leonard walked to center court to handle the fans before the sport, with George doing all of the talking. He said the team’s slogan is Why Not Us. “Let’s go get it this 12 months,” George said.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host defending NBA champion Golden State on Tuesday to open a six-game homestand.
Clippers: Play at Oklahoma City on Tuesday and Thursday in a two-game trip.
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