Suns Hope to Build Momentum From Clippers Win

After stopping a five-game losing streak, the Phoenix Suns got back on track with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

It felt like the Phoenix Suns couldn't buy a win over the last week. 

Dropping five consecutive games does a lot to a team, both mentally from within and from a public perspective as well. Questions on Phoenix's ability to stay healthy and win crucial games down the stretch only grew louder as the Suns dropped games to Dallas, Boston, New Orleans (x2) and Houston to slide down to the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. 

Yet momentum finally swung back in Phoenix's favor on Thursday after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 111-95. 

Following the game, Monty Williams spoke with reporters and said it was a relief to get back in the win column:

“When you lose five in a row, obviously it’s a relief just to get a win. The way we played, especially in the first half, second half there was a bit of a let down. We have to build stamina. With guys coming in and out, some guys are losing rhythm because they’ve been out, or their conditioning is whatever," Williams said. 

"I think we have to get to a place where we build the kind of stamina it takes to play the way we did in the first half. I thought it was phenomenal. The second half, we did not defend as well and we didn’t move the ball as well. We only had 10 assists in the second half. We should’ve had high 30 ’s assists. We missed some shots for sure, but it is a relief to get a win. It is a relief to see us play the kind of basketball, especially from the defensive side, that we played in the first half. 

"We just have to start stacking halves in that fashion.”

The Suns were able to climb up to as much as a 31-point lead in the win without Deandre Ayton. LA, without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, threatened to climb back in the game multiple times but Phoenix was able to maintain their distance. 

“We’re competitors in here, and we never like to lose. But at the same time, it’s different than last year," Devin Booker said after the game. Booker missed the previous two games with hamstring tightness. 

"We stress a little more about the games that really don’t matter. Win or loss, we’re just trying to improve, get better and peak at the right time to get ready for later in the season.”

Chris Paul had a double-double on the 11th anniversary of his unveiling as a Clipper. Paul, who actually graduated from Winston-Salem State today, hopes to keep momentum going in the right direction. 

“It’s never easy, you know but a win is a win and it is hard to get wins in this league. I’m happy we got a win out of this road trip so we are going to try to keep this train moving.”

Phoenix hopes to do so when they begin a four-game stretch at home beginning with their final meeting against the Pelicans on Saturday night. 

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