Game Day: Suns (10-24) @ Clippers (22-14), Mon 1/2/17

[Superbone]

Time: 8:30 pm AZ (7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET)
Place: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: FSAZ/NBALP

The Clippers are missing Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and consequently have lost 6 games in a row. Tonight is the first night of a long homestand for them and they are happy that it is Phoenix in town to start it off.

If there's been a positive for Phoenix in recent games, it's been the play of their three prized rookies -- Marquese Chriss, Dragan Bender and Tyler Ulis.

Chriss had his best two-game sequence of the season last week, scoring 12 and 13 points in losses at Houston and San Antonio.

Bender recorded his first career double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds) last Monday at Houston, and followed that up with 10 points at San Antonio.

And Ulis has played so well the last two games (16 points on 7-for-13 shooting), he's been phasing veteran Brandon Knight out of the regular rotation.

Suns veteran P.J. Tucker has been impressed of late with Bender, the 19-year-old who had totaled only 59 points in the Suns' first 30 games after having been the No. 4 overall pick in the June draft.

"He's coming out and playing hard," Tucker told reporters after Saturday's loss at Utah. "He listens. As a rookie, that's all you can ask for."

Go Suns!!!

Dis • cuss

[Nodack]

As much as it hurts to see them lose so much, it is good to see the rookies start to come along.

[Mori Chu]

Interested to see whether the recent reduction in minutes for Knight is a long-term trend. (Yes please?)

[carey]

Interested to see whether the recent reduction in minutes for Knight is a long-term trend. (Yes please?)

I think that largely depends on Knight. Watson has had him on a short leash.

[Gladiator]

The Clippers are in a real funk at the moment (same 3-7 record over their last 10 games as the Suns). I'm a little concerned that we might be tempted to lean heavily on the vets in an attempt to score a win against a team with a winning record

[Superbone]

Interested to see whether the recent reduction in minutes for Knight is a long-term trend. (Yes please?)

I think that largely depends on Knight. Watson has had him on a short leash.

I'm wondering if there is already a trade in the works. We don't want to damage the goods.

[Cap]

I'm a little concerned that we might be tempted to lean heavily on the vets in an attempt to score a win against a team with a winning record

I'm concerned if we lean on Tucker, Chandler and Knight, because they're little better, if at all, than their younger counterparts. Bleds and Dudley are OK.

[Danimal]

I'm a little concerned that we might be tempted to lean heavily on the vets in an attempt to score a win against a team with a winning record

I'm concerned if we lean on Tucker, Chandler and Knight, because they're little better, if at all, than their younger counterparts. Bleds and Dudley are OK.

lets see if TJ starts again, they would be the early indicator

[Danimal]

Sloppy play by both teams so far

[Danimal]

Tj 6 points 3/3 good to see him off to a decent start

[carey]

Good start to the game for Warren.

[Danimal]

Really nice offense possession by the bench with the Len dunk

[Danimal]

Barbs to Len for the jam again. Nice

[Cap]

Tough play, where Len hit Bender with a pass before Bender reestablished himself inbounds. I like how they look for each other, even if they were a little out of sync that time.

[Danimal]

Our offense looks better but no much D. Letting the clips get in the lane.

[Danimal]

7 mins left Suns already in the penalty. Hope tj keeps it going

[carey]

You can tell where this game is being played. Christ.

[carey]

FTAs 18-6 in favor of L.A.

[Shabazz]

Our defense is butt.

[carey]

FT margin 22-10 in the first half.