The Los Angeles Clippers (1-1) were in complete control, leading by as much as 32 points and cruising to a 129-102 victory against the Phoenix Suns (1-1) on October 25.
BEST PLAYER OF THE GAME:
James Harden LAC SG 30 PTS | 7 REB | 7 AST | 47.9 FPS
Harden was red hot to start the game, pouring in 26 points in a perfect 5-for-5 shooting from three in the first half, all while posting elite numbers in other areas.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE:
Dilon Brooks PHX SF 21 PTS | 5-10 3PT | 2 STL | 29.6 FPS
Brooks is thriving with the Suns, exploding for his second straight 20-point outing. He also found his rhythm from long range, hitting 5 of 10 three-pointers.
SCORING LEADERS:
Kawhi Leonard LA SF 27 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 44.5 FPS
Kawhi had a solid bounce back performance after struggling against Utah, shooting 52% from the field and contributing solid numbers in the secondary categories.
Devin Booker PHX SG 18 PTS | 5-10 FG | 7-7 FT | 29.1 FPS
Booker had trouble finding his rhythm but still kept his output strong with a 7-for-7 performance from the foul line. In the last seven seasons, he’s one of only two players in the league to average at least 25 points.
STAT SPECIALIST:
Chris Paul LAC PG 3 REBS | 8 AST | 3 STL | 22.6 FPS
Paul showcased his playmaking prowess in the match by leading all players in assists. He ranks second in NBA history in total assists with 12,511.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT:
Royce O’Neale PHX SF 4 REB | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 24.3 FPS
O’Neale struggled offensively, going 3-for-10 from deep but he made up for it in defense. Last year, he averaged 0.5 blocks and 0.9 steals to go along with his 9.1 points per game.
THE SHARPSHOOTER:
Derrick Jones Jr. LAC SF 17 PTS | 6-6 FG | 5-5 3PT | 30.8 FPS
Jones delivered a flawless performance on offense while also contributing on the defensive end. Last season, he averaged 10.1 points per game on 52.6% shooting from the field and 35.6% from three-point range.
THE X-FACTOR:
Kris Dunn LAC PG 14 PTS | 2 REB | 3 STL | 26.9 FPS
Dunn provided a strong spark on offense, scoring 9 points in the first half. Last season, he alternated between the starting lineup and the bench, averaging 6.4 points and 1.7 steals in 24 minutes per game.
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Grayson Allen PHX SG 12 PTS | 5 AST | 1 BLK | 26.7 FPS
Allen is off to a solid start this season, averaging 15 points and 6 assists over his first two games.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE GAME:
Bradley Beal LAC SG 6 PTS | 1 REB | 2 AST
Beal hasn’t been very productive in his first two games, scoring just 11 points on 9 shot attempts. He’s also on a minutes restriction to start the season.
