ORLANDO, Fla. _ Seconds away from forcing overtime Tuesday, the Clippers saw their opportunity to win stolen by the Phoenix Suns.
Center Ivica Zubac's tipped pass, which would have started a fast break in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, instead landed in the hands of Suns star Devin Booker, whose game-winning basket as time expired sealed Phoenix's 117-115 victory.
That the game ended on a difficult shot was fitting on an afternoon when the Suns pushed their lead to as many as 11 points behind their shooting. They made 17 of the 32 3-pointers they attempted, a cushion that helped them stave off a fourth-quarter Clippers comeback that locked the game into a tie throughout the final minutes.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers (45-22) with 27 points. Booker scored 35.
