Suns Make History with Epic Fourth-Quarter Comeback Against Clippers
Down but never out. The Phoenix Suns pulled off the largest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history Tuesday night, rallying from a 16-point deficit to stun the Los Angeles Clippers, 119-117, at Crypto.com Arena.
With their playoff hopes in question, the Suns refused to back down, led by a vintage performance from Kevin Durant, who scored 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to fuel the improbable rally. At 36 years old, Durant reminded everyone why he remains one of the league’s most feared scorers, taking over in the clutch and silencing the home crowd with a series of tough buckets down the stretch.
History in the Making
Trailing 98-82 entering the final 12 minutes, the Suns faced a daunting task. No team in franchise history had ever overcome a larger fourth-quarter deficit to win. But Phoenix stormed back, outscoring the Clippers 43-22 in the final frame, fueled by Durant’s 19-point explosion and key contributions from Devin Booker and Mason Plumlee off the bench.
Durant, as he has done countless times in his career, took command when it mattered most. With just over a minute left, he nailed a go-ahead jumper to give the Suns their first lead since the second quarter. Moments later, he calmly sank two free throws to extend the lead to three.
The Clippers had one final chance, but James Harden’s purposefully missed free throw did not go as planned.
Durant Delivers in the Clutch
While some may question if Durant still has the legs to dominate at this stage of his career, he answered in typical KD fashion Tuesday night. His 19 fourth-quarter points were a reminder of his elite scoring ability, as he drained mid-range jumpers, attacked the rim, and sinked critical free throws to cap off the comeback.
After the game, Durant kept his focus on the present, acknowledging the Suns’ abnormally low position in the standings.
“We can’t focus on the big picture too much. We’re in a tough position to be thinking about the playoffs right now,” Durant said. “If we think too far down the line, we’ll forget where we’re at.”
Key Contributions
Beyond Durant’s heroics, Devin Booker added 17 points, while Mason Plumlee provided a spark off the bench with 14 points and six rebounds. The Clippers were led by James Harden’s 35 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac each contributed 21 points. However, Los Angeles struggled to generate offense late, allowing Phoenix to claw back into the game.
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Suns improve their standing in the Western Conference, but challenges remain. If Tuesday’s performance is any indication, Phoenix is far from done. With Durant leading the charge and a newfound sense of urgency, the Suns may have just reignited their season.
For now, they’ll savor one of the most thrilling wins in franchise history, one that proved no deficit is too great when you have Kevin Durant in your corner.