Phoenix Suns Come Back From 17 Down, Beat Clippers 91-87 Without Nash, Hill

These Phoenix Suns just don't stop.

On Thursday, the Suns played their second game of a grueling back-to-back-to-back with a visit to the Los Angeles Clippers. Phoenix played without the services of Steve Nash and Grant Hill, who sat out to rest during the taxing three-game stretch.

Despite all of those obstacles, none of them mattered much by night's end. Shannon Brown led the way for Phoenix with 21 points, and the Suns rallied from a 17-point deficit to clinch a 91-87 victory in L.A.

The Suns didn't inspire much confidence early on. Phoenix had trouble generating offense in the first half as the team struggled without its veteran leaders on the floor. The Suns scored only 17 points in the first quarter and had only one double-digit scorer (Brown) until midway through the fourth period.

That's when things started to change. Bench players Michael Redd and Robin Lopez sparked a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 78-76. Perhaps more memorable, however, is the hack method that Alvin Gentry chose to implement in the fourth quarter. Gentry chose to foul Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, two notoriously bad free-throw shooters, down the stretch, and it paid off. The Clippers struggled to score while the Suns continued to pile on buckets.

In the end, things came full circle when Brown- Phoenix's main contributor in the first half- sealed the win. Shannon hit a big three-pointer following a Jared Dudley offensive rebound to give Phoenix a permanent lead at 87-85, and his clutch free throws at the end sealed the win.

The Suns are 7-2 since the All-Star Break and have consecutive wins after two-thirds of their back-to-back-to-back. Phoenix returns home to play the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. With Nash and Hill rested up, the Suns have a great chance to continue building on Thursday's momentum tomorrow night.