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Joe Johnson scored 22 points, and Leandro Barbosa had nine of his 16 in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-93 after blowing a 19-point lead Thursday.
Melvin Ely led Los Angeles with 19 points.
The Clippers (1-3) made only one of their first 11 shots from 3-point range before Quentin Richardson hit a desperation 53-footer at the third quarter buzzer to slice Phoenix's lead to 72-71. Los Angeles took its first lead 22 seconds into the fourth on a pair of free throws by Bobby Simmons.
The lead changed hands five more times before Ely slammed home a missed shot by Chris Wilcox for a 92-91 edge with three minutes to play. Casey Jacobsen's two free throws put the Suns (2-3) ahead to stay with 2:37 left.
Ely made one of two at the line before Jacobsen hit a baseline jumper for two of his 17 points and Barbosa made one of two free throws to close out the scoring with 29 seconds remaining. Ticketmaster
Marcus Hatten missed a 21-footer at the other end, but the Suns' Ray Weathers missed two free throws to give the Clippers a chance for a tying 3-pointer -- which Eddie House missed from the right sideline just before the buzzer.
Clippers forward Elton Brand sat out with a mild left ankle sprain. He was hurt late in the third quarter of Tuesday's one-sided victory over of Dallas.
The Suns' Amare Stoudemire, the NBA Rookie of the Year, was back in Florida for his grandfather's funeral.