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LOS ANGELES -- DeAndre Jordan looked around the press room with that big, megawatt smile and playfully avoided a question about his injured thumb as though it never happened.Jordan sprained his right thumb Sunday but played with it taped on Monday night. That meant the Big Three for the Los Angeles Clippers was still very much intact and effective.Chris Paul scored 24 points and Blake Griffin had 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 116-98 victory over the winless Phoenix Suns.Jordan added 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Clippers relied on their top stars in improving to 3-0 this season.I feel great, Jordan said. It was a scary play for a second (on Sunday). I really want to play basketball. I dont want to miss any games. My teammates were definitely on me about getting it taken care of, but Im fine.As are the Clippers. Phoenix, however, has plenty of work to do.Brandon Knight scored 18 points for the Suns (0-4), who gave Los Angeles a little scare on Halloween when they cut the lead to 56-55 in the third quarter. The Clippers pulled away after that, and Phoenix was marred by fouls and turnovers.We kept playing hard, but the momentum kind of switched over, forward T.J. Warren said. After the third, we couldnt get stops and we were fouling a lot and putting them on the free throw line.Griffin scored 15 points in the first half, when Los Angeles built a 13-point lead. He made 12 of 14 free throws.The Clippers defense was stout and forced the Suns into 14 first-half turnovers and 20 overall. Los Angeles closed with an 18-3 run to lead 48-36 at halftime.The two things I liked were that we stayed engaged defensively, and thats what weve done all year and they just kept trusting, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. Like (they know) its going to fall and eventually it started falling and once the basket opened up, with the way we were defending, we were in great shape.Jordan entertained with an assortment of dunks and layups despite playing with his right thumb wrapped in tape. Early in the first quarter, he grimaced and grabbed his thumb when he missed an alley-oop. But he remained in the game and never showed any signs of a problem afterward.Four of the five Clippers starters had scored in double figures by the end of the third quarter. Los Angeles offense has been slow to catch up with its defense early this season, but the Suns were no match on the defensive end as the Clippers got into a rhythm.Suns center Tyson Chandler fouled out with 7:51 left, a product of trying to contain Jordan and the rest of the Clippers frontcourt.The fouls and turnovers caught up with the Suns late in the game.Thats a lack of focus, coach Earl Watson said. They all came in the second quarter. And we cant let foul calls disrupt our rhythm mentally. We have to weather that storm and be mentally tough and play through that.TIP-INSSuns: G Devin Booker, third on the team in scoring, was a game-time decision and sat out with a sprained toe. Before the game, Watson said: If he doesnt play, hes really in pain.Clippers: Jordan injured his thumb in a win over Utah. He left the game but returned to play, and X-rays were negative. Rivers said he would monitor the situation throughout the game.BACK-TO-BACKSBoth the Suns and Clippers were playing back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Suns hosted the Warriors on Sunday and lost 106-100. The Clippers played an afternoon game Sunday followed by a night game. Rivers said he doesnt mind that kind of schedule.PIERCE WINS HALLOWEENPaul Pierce is still out with an ankle injury, but his Halloween costume was a winner. Pierce dressed up as rock star Rick James but changed just before tip-off. He posed for plenty of pictures before the game, including one with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.UP NEXTSuns: Return home Wednesday to host Portland. Phoenix won the season series 2-1 last year.Clippers: Host the Thunder on Wednesday. Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook is averaging 38.7 points per game. He scored 51 against the Suns.Hes an unbelievable player, just the impact he has on the game from so many different areas, Griffin said. The pressure he puts on defenses alone is crazy. You kind of know, thats just his personality, to just go and destroy and try to take over. Cheap Vans Shoes China . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Cheap Vans Shoes Sale . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. http://www.vanscheap.net/ . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Vans Shoes Discount Online . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Vans Shoes Clearance Outlet . JOHNS, N. ATLANTA -- The Nationals said Saturday an MRI showed a slight strain in Stephen Strasburgs lat instead of his oblique, and the team is hoping the right-hander can avoid the disabled list. Strasburg left Friday nights game against the Braves after two innings. Strasburg was examined in Washington on Saturday. After Saturday nights 2-1 loss to the Braves, trainer Lee Kuntz said Strasburg has a grade one strain. "Thats the lowest," Kuntz said. "Its a lat and its down low. Its also happens to be where your oblique comes around and inserts." The concern Friday was Strasburg had an oblique injury, but Kuntz said Saturday "I dont have X-ray eyes." Manager Davey Johnson said the strain is "kind of up his back on the right side. Maybe it will go away. Its a little different than if it were lower and on the side more." Johnson said there is no need to rush a decision on Strasburgs status for his next start on Thursday. The Nationals have an off day on Monday, and Johnson said Saturday Strasburgs next start could be pushed back if necessary. "Well see how he feels," Johnson said. ";If hes not having any discomfort and its not grabbing him, he wont miss a start.dddddddddddd But if its bothering him hell probably miss a start and see if it eases up for him and he doesnt have to do anything more than that." Johnson said it was too early to look at how he might adjust the rotation to give Strasburg extra rest. "Its premature to be doing that," Johnson said. "Lets see how hes feeling today and how hes feeling tomorrow. Then well take it from there." Strasburgs start in the Nationals 3-2 win Friday night was the shortest of his career. He grimaced after throwing a change-up to Brian McCann with one out in the second but completed the inning. Craig Stammen relieved Strasburg to begin the third. Another starting pitcher, Ross Detwiler, is on the 15-day disabled list with a back strain. Strasburg is 3-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 12 games. He was 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 2012. The Nationals on Saturday placed outfielder Bryce Harper on the 15-day disabled list with bursitis in his left knee. Right-hander Erik Davis was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to pitch out of the bullpen. ' ' '