Coming off a disappointing finish to the 2023-24 season, the Phoenix Suns sought a tone-setting opening night and they achieved it by leaving the crowd at LA’s brand new Intuit Dome disappointed as Phoenix headed home victorious.

Bradley Beal was everywhere in the season-opening win, contributing 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 4-of-6 from three along with three rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. He also contributed excellent on-ball defense in the 116-113 overtime win.

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“I’m just super happy to start the year with the guys,” Brad said. “I didn’t get that blessing last year. Just taking advantage of it this year. Every single time I step on this floor, I know I can contribute to our success on either end of the floor. Tonight it had to be defense. I stepped up offensively at times throughout the game, but definitely proud of my defense.”

Brad scored 16 of his 24 points after halftime, including nine in the third quarter to keep Phoenix afloat as the Clippers mounted a comeback from a 47-39 halftime deficit.

Los Angeles kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter and held a nine-point edge with four minutes to go. But the Suns went on an 11-0 run to take the lead. After the Clippers edged ahead again, Kevin Durant’s bucket with 21 seconds left pushed the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Brad scored seven of Phoenix’s 13 points, and his triple with 3:44 to go put the Suns ahead for good. But it was his defensive commitment — forcing a turnover and a few big misses — that was most impressive.

“That’s what we need going forward. Us three, we have to guard. We have to sacrifice some of our game, some of our energy for [the defensive] end.”