Familiar Face Leaves the Clippers at a Loss

PHOENIX — Quentin Richardson made his debut in a Phoenix uniform with 22 points against his former team, and the Suns ran off to a 105-83 exhibition victory Wednesday night over the Clippers.

Richardson, who joined Phoenix via free agency when the Clippers declined to match a $44-million, six-year offer this summer, provided the outside threat missing in last season’s 29-53 campaign -- the Suns’ worst in 16 years.

He made five of six three-point attempts, including three in the third quarter when he scored 14 points.

Amare Stoudemire also had 22 points for the Suns, and Joe Johnson, starting at point guard with Steve Nash sidelined by a groin strain, scored 14.

Bobby Simmons had 15 points and Kaniel Dickens 12 for the Clippers, who played without injured starters Corey Maggette (thumb), Marko Jaric (thumb), Kerry Kittles (knee) and Chris Kaman (shin).

The absence of Maggette, the team’s top scorer last season, showed during a 25-2 run by the Suns late in the first quarter.

Richardson dunked, assisted on a dunk by Stoudemire and made two three-pointers -- the last from 26 feet -- to open a 31-15 Phoenix lead with 58 seconds left in the quarter.

Simmons had seven points in the second quarter, when the Clippers got within seven points twice.

The announced crowd of 10,114 was one of the smallest for a Suns’ game in America West Arena, probably affected by the Bush-Kerry presidential debate in suburban Tempe and a subsequent rally for Bush at Bank One Ballpark a block away.