The Clippers are no longer the laughingstock of the league but have yet to show the poise on the road that defines winning teams. After going winless in their first six road games, they crushed the Suns down the stretch to steal a victory.
"We're a young team and we have to learn to hang in," Los Angeles coach Alvin Gentry said. "We've been in games like this on the road all year and have nothing tangible to show for it. It was great tonight for us to get a win on the road."
 Jeff McInnis and the Clips have only given up 20 points in their last two fourth quarters. Barry Gossage NBAE/Getty Images |
"My mindset in the fourth quarter was just to get myself into the game," Richardson said. "I hadn't given the team anything, I was starting to look for my shots and produce. I tried to do other things to get myself open."
"He made some tough threes with the shot clock running down," said Phoenix guard Penny Hardaway, who guarded Richardson down the stretch. "Once the game got tight, they gained confidence and with a young team like that, they're going to make some plays."
After a layup by Darius Miles, Rodney Rogers' 3-pointer tied it, 92-92, with 1:54 to go. Lamar Odom made a layup 38 seconds later to give the Clippers the lead for good.
Los Angeles held Phoenix to just nine points and had an overwhelming 22-5 rebounding edge in the fourth quarter.
"In the fourth quarter, they decided to just go ahead and win the game," Phoenix coach Scott Skiles said. "You aren't gonna win games when you play like that in the fourth quarter."
"The last two games, we've played great defense in the fourth quarter," Gentry said. "I just thought the one thing we had to do was attack the boards. When they had to make shots, it didn't happen for them. It's gone the other way for us most of the time on the road, so it's a great win for us."
The Suns were outscored 24-4 in the final seven minutes of Saturday's loss at Denver.
"I am not real good on making excuses," Skiles said. "We're just not in tune in the fourth quarter."
Corey Maggette scored 17 points and Richardson finished with 16 for Los Angeles, which has won nine of its last 12 overall. Odom had eight points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
Jeff McInnis had 13 points and four steals and Miles collected eight and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 51 percent (39-of-76) and held a commanding 48-34 rebounding edge.
Shawn Marion and Hardaway scored 21 points each to lead Phoenix, which has lost three straight and five of seven.
The Suns shot just 43 percent (38-of-87) and lost for just the fourth time in the last 17 meetings with Los Angeles, which has won four of the last five in the series.
Phoenix was clinging to a 27-26 lead early in the second quarter before going on a 12-2 run. Tony Delk opened the run with a pair of 3-pointers and capped with a basket that gave the Suns a 39-28 lead.
Phoenix took its largest lead, 49-37, with 4:10 to play in the first half, but the Clippers relled off 10 straight points to pulled within a basket.
The Suns had a 56-49 lead at halftime and used a 6-0 run late in the third quarter to open an 83-72 cushion before their offense collapsed.