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Kevin Durant's 25 points help the Suns top the Clippers in overtime

Kevin Durant's 25 points help the Suns top the Clippers in overtime

NBA: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles ClippersOct. 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) shoots the ball against LA Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) and forward Nicolas Batum (33) during the first half at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory attribution: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant scored 25 points, including a game-winning jumper, with 21.2 seconds left in regulation as the visiting Phoenix Suns tied it at 116 in their regular-season debut at the Los Angeles Clippers' $2 billion arena in Inglewood :113 win in overtime. Calif.

Bradley Beal scored 24 points and Devin Booker added 15 before fouling out late in regulation. Booker came to life late after scoring just six points in three quarters as Phoenix won in the debut of new head coach Mike Budenholzer.

James Harden scored 29 points with 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Clippers, but missed a game-winning free throw attempt with 4.8 seconds left in overtime. Ivica Zubac scored 21 points with nine rebounds for Los Angeles before being fouled in overtime, while Norman Powell had 17 points.

The Clippers had a chance for a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds of overtime, but Harden's turnover ended any chance of a second overtime.

The Clippers were without star Kawhi Leonard, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

The Suns used an 11-0 run to win 101-99 with 1:39 left in regulation, and Harden capped the run with a reverse jumper with 1:14 on the clock to make the game 101-10 to finish. Harden then hit two free throws after a Durant foul with 41.5 seconds left to give the Clippers a 103-101 lead.

Durant's fadeaway jumper tied the game at 103 with 21.2 seconds left before Harden's left-handed floater bounced off the front of the rim in traffic at the buzzer, sending the game into OT.

Trailing by 14 points in the second quarter, the Clippers trailed 47-39 at halftime before turning relentless defense into an 88-79 lead with 7:27 left.

The Suns took a 23-22 lead after the opening period and took control in the second quarter by holding Los Angeles to 33.3 percent shooting, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range.

After scoring just four points on 2 of 11 shooting in the first half, the 35-year-old Harden broke through in the third quarter when he shot 5 of 9 from the floor and 2 of 3 from 3-point range. The Clippers entered the fourth quarter with a 74-72 lead.

–Field level media

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