The Clippers shine in home opener 129-102 over Suns
Los Angeles Clippers #1 James Harden (G) is bringing the ball up court while being defended by the Phoenix Suns #8 Grayson Allen. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 October 24, 2025.
INGLEWOOD, CA – The Los Angeles Clippers bounced back after a disastrous season opener, routing the Phoenix Suns 129-102 last night in their home opener behind a dominant performance from their stars.
James Harden led the charge with a game-high 30 points, complemented by Kawhi Leonard’s 27 points. Harden did it all for the Clippers; he nailed five three-pointers, went a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, had seven rebounds, and seven assists. Los Angeles shook off the 21-point loss at Utah, where they had trailed by 37 points.
Derrick Jones Jr. was perfect from the field, scoring 17 points on five three-pointers. The Clippers shot an exceptional 55% shooting from beyond the arc as a team.
The first quarter was a game of runs. Phoenix had an early 12-0 spurt to take a nine-point lead, but the Clippers quickly countered. Los Angeles took over in the second period, opening with their own decisive 12-0 run that fueled a high-scoring quarter, resulting in a 72-56 lead at halftime. Harden’s production was on full display in the first half, scoring 26 of his 30 points and sinking three three-pointers in a quick 37-second span late in the second quarter.
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (F) is pulling up for a jump shot against several Phoenix Suns’ defender at the Intuit Dome. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 October 24, 2025.
The Clippers began the third quarter with the same aggressive defense, unleashing another 12-0 run. Leonard was particularly effective during this stretch, scoring eight points, while Jones Jr. contributed another three-pointer. The lead reached its largest of the game at 32 points on a John Collins dunk.
Head Coach Tyronn Lue praised the defensive shift that powered the turnaround. "You know, every night’s got to be a defensive mindset if we want to win games," Lue said. "We’ll be able to score, but we got to be able to stop people. So, it was good to see our defense pick up, like I said, at the last four minutes of the first quarter all the way through.
Dillion Brooks scored 21 points, hitting five three-pointers, and Devin Booker added 18 points and seven assists. The duo combined for 16 of the Suns’ 21 points in the third quarter but could not spark a rally, as they trailed 106-77 going into the final period.
Los Angeles cruised through the fourth quarter to secure the 129-102 victory. The win moves the Clippers’ record to 1-1 on the young season. They will look to continue their momentum as they host Portland on Sunday.