Preview: Clippers Visit Suns in Key Western Conference Matchup PHOENIX (Interstat) — The surging Los Angeles Clippers, winners of eight of their last 10, will face a stern test on the road Sunday against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. The Clippers (22-24) have climbed back toward .500 behind the orchestration of guard James Harden, who enters the contest on a remarkable run of playmaking. Over his last 10 games, Harden has averaged 24.8 points and 8.4 assists, recording double-digit assists in five of those outings. In Tuesday’s 115-103 win at Utah, Harden posted 16 points and 10 assists. He will be countered by a Suns (29-19) squad that has found a potent offensive spark from forward Dillon Brooks. Brooks is coming off a career-high 40-point performance in Thursday’s 114-96 victory over Detroit, adding eight rebounds. Over his last five games, Brooks is averaging 25.8 points. Phoenix holds the season series advantage, having won the last two meetings in November. The Suns won 115-102 at home on Nov. 6 and 114-103 in Los Angeles on Nov. 8. The Clippers’ last win in the series was a 129-102 rout in the season opener on Oct. 24. The Suns have been strong at home this season and currently sit in a more secure playoff position in the Western Conference. The Clippers, however, are one of the league’s hottest teams since mid-January. Their recent surge includes a six-game winning streak snapped by a blowout loss in Chicago on Jan. 20, a game in which Harden still managed 24 points and six assists. For Phoenix, consistency has been a recent challenge, with alternating wins and losses in their last six games. Guard Grayson Allen, who scored 24 points against Detroit, provides a key secondary scoring option alongside Brooks. Kawhi Leonard remains a central figure for the Clippers, contributing 21 points and seven rebounds in the win over Utah. His two-way presence will be crucial against a versatile Phoenix attack. Sunday’s matchup is the first of a back-to-back for Los Angeles, which hosts Philadelphia on Monday. Phoenix begins a three-game road trip in Portland on Tuesday.