NBA, Suns Fans React to Game 1 Loss vs Clippers

The Phoenix Suns were upset by the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1, and fans weren't too pleased.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns were hoping to emerge to a 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers, yet Kawhi Leonard and company had other ideas. 

Los Angeles - clearly underdogs to a Suns team that yields superstars such as Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Devin Booker - walked out of the Footprint Center with a 115-110 victory over Phoenix to establish a 1-0 series lead. 

While Tuesday will present a new opportunity for the Suns to level the series before heading into Games 3/4, the loss is still fresh in the minds of Suns and NBA fans alike. 

Los Angeles Lakers fans were quite happy to see Phoenix lose, though that might be a lose-lose with the Clippers winning. 

Suns lose game 1 at home pic.twitter.com/5HcjBlr4MH

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 17, 2023

Kevin Durant was fairly quiet down the stretch despite leading Phoenix in scoring with 27 points. He had just one shot attempt in the final five minutes of play, which obviously is a problem that the Suns can't afford to have happen again in another close contest.  

treat KD like he’s Cam Johnson again and we’re gonna have a problem @suns

— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) April 17, 2023

Like any coach, Monty Williams will receive some criticism for how the Suns looked tonight, especially with a week of preparation. 

Absolute disaster class of a game from the Suns.

Monty sabotaged the team from the start with his management of the rotations.

Chris Paul hijacked the offense down the stretch misfiring on jumpers instead of getting the ball into the hands of KD and Booker.

Ayton is… YEA…

— pain (@CHREEZUSCHRIST) April 17, 2023

Hard not to think about the Suns going on that great run in he 3rd, followed by an all-bench+Booker lineup that let the lead slip away.

This was probably the most questionable coaching in Monty’s entire tenure with the Suns.

— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) April 17, 2023

The Suns had just two bench points at halftime and finished with just ten on the night. For a Phoenix squad looking to ping themselves deep into the postseason, you'd hope for better production. 

People really said that benches don’t matter lmao. Suns bench is horrible

— ᴅ ʀ ᴇ ᴡ (@FeelLikeDrew) April 17, 2023

It's still early in the series, but things would look awfully bleak if Phoenix can't escape the first round. 

Game 2 will be at the Footprint Center on Tuesday at 7:00 PM PST.