What must Phoenix Suns do in Game 3 vs. Clippers? Here's what The Republic's writers say

With the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers series now tied 1-1, attention turns to Game 3 in Los Angeles on Thursday.

What will the Suns have to do in that game to take the series lead? Here's what The Republic's writers covering this series have to say about that:

Greg Moore: 'Big Four' will have to win it for Suns

The Suns woke up after a sleepy start to their series against the Clippers.

In going down 1-0, the Suns looked lazy and confused, getting out-hustled and outexecuted by a Clippers squad that had every excuse to simply go through the motions, rather than seriously compete.

In tying the series at 1-1, the Suns showed they could match energy and effort with the Clippers, who are missing All-Star wing Paul George.

The good news? Kevin Durant hasn’t yet found his offensive rhythm, going just 3 for 11 from 3-point range in the series.

The bad news? The Suns can expect more physical play from the Clippers, who go much deeper into their bench. That bodes well for Los Angeles the longer the series lasts.

But a 1-1, the Suns are alive. A 2-0 deficit would have been too much to overcome, headed to LA for the next two games.

The Suns will have to rely on the Big Four (Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton) to return to Phoenix in position to close out the first-round series. But it’s going to take the energy and effort they displayed in Game 2 as opposed to the lackadaisical bewilderment of Game 1.

Analysis: Can Phoenix Suns keep momentum going in Los Angeles after Game 2 win over Clippers?

Dana Scott: Suns need more offensive rebounding

Suns coach Monty Williams said after Game 2 that a team who beats its opponent in the rebounding battle typically closes out the win.

That manifested for the Suns as they outrebounded the Clippers, 35-32, on Tuesday. But they were outhustled on the offensive glass like they were in the series opener.

The Suns were beaten on the offensive glass 12-7 in Game 2, and 15-6 in Game 1.

Defensive rebounding gets stops to get out and push the pace like the Suns want to do. But offensive boards extend possessions to prevent momentum by the Clippers, which have a 34-22 lead in second-chance points.

This can’t continue through the next two road games in which the Suns will try to regain homecourt advantage. Getting more offensive rebounds can help quiet a home crowd in the rowdy playoff atmosphere.

More: Devin Booker 'mesmerizing' in Suns' NBA Playoffs win over Los Angeles Clippers

Duane Rankin: Suns can't allow Clippers to keep living in the paint

The Suns must do a better job of keeping the Clippers out of the paint for two reasons.

One, the Clippers have three guys who play downhill in Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell. You can add Bones Hyland to that list, but those first three are getting straight line drives.

The Clippers have scored 92 paint points while the Suns are at 88. Slim difference, but the Clippers get drive-and-kick 3s off dribble penetration.

They haven’t shot the ball great from 3 so far (21-of-61) in this series, but the Clippers finished the regular season third in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at 38.7%. They're due for a high percentage night.

Two, it puts the Suns in foul jeopardy.

Phoenix committed 25 fouls in Game 1 and 22 in Game 2. That’s led to the Clippers winning the free throw battle so far in this series.

• Suns: 36-of-47

• Clippers: 51-of-60.

The Suns starters had 20 fouls in Game 1 (Torrey Craig 5, Kevin Durant 4, Deandre Ayton 4, Chris Paul 4, and Devin Booker 3) and 16 in Game 2 (Ayton 5, Booker 4, Paul 3, Craig 2 and Durant 2).

That’s in Phoenix.

That number could rise in Los Angeles. If it does, that’ll not only slow the game down to keep the Suns from running, but it’ll give the Clippers time to set up their ever-changing defense.

The Suns averaged 21.2 fouls a game in the regular season. They've been known to lose their cool over the officiating. The Suns can’t afford to live in that world and expect to win Game 3.

More: Suns vs. Clippers picks, predictions: Who wins Game 3 of NBA Playoffs?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What must Phoenix Suns do in Game 3 vs. Clippers? Here's what The Republic's writers say