Categoria: Clippers

Clippers’ Paul George Likely Out The Rest Of The Regular Season

by Vittorio Rienzo 22 Marzo 2023 Comments0

A worst-case scenario became the best-possible news for Clippers’ Paul George, who was diagnosed with a sprained right knee Wednesday.

Less than 24 hours after appearing to hyperextend his right knee, an MRI revealed that the All-Star wing suffered a less dire injury. George will be evaluated in two to three weeks, according to the Clippers.

George landed awkwardly after his leg, his knee bending backward, after colliding with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort while going for a rebound with 4:38 left in the 101-100 loss. George immediately fell to the floor, clutching his leg. He was eventually helped off the court by Clippers staffers without putting pressure on his leg.

The prognosis could put George back in the lineup between April 5-13 – given there isn’t any ligament damage – four days after the regular season ends. Anything more serious and it could spell the end of the season for George and deliver a blow to the Clippers’ title hopes.

The Clippers (38-35) are fifth in the Western Conference with nine games left, all against conference teams. They play the Thunder again Thursday.

The news of George’s injury cast a pall over the Clippers locker room after the game. The few remaining players, however, said the team needs to move forward and not dwell on the situation.

“We have to overcome it, you have to, especially for him,” Nicolas Batum said. “We got to stay focused on who we have on the court. You know, we got good guys, great players anyway, so we’ve been there before. One team who has been there before it’s us.”

Last season, the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard, who missed the entire season after having surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and they lost in the play-in portion of the playoffs.

This season, managing the health of George and Leonard has been foremost with the team. The two have been playing well lately. In 55 games, George had been averaging 23.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 45.6% form the field and 37.5% from 3-point range. Leonard is averaging 23.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while shooting 51.2% from the field and 41.5% from behind the arc.

Alexander: Russell Westbrook Makes An (Almost) Successful Clippers Debut

by Vittorio Rienzo 25 Febbraio 2023 Comments0

LOS ANGELES — The length of Russell Westbrook’s honeymoon with the Clippers might hinge on a couple of mitigating factors.

First, he has more good players around him. His new team has two superstars, the same as his old team. But the complementary players, including those the Clippers picked up at the trading deadline, are far more skilled than those the Lakers had around him. (And there is no small irony in the idea that the Lakers assembled a better supporting cast by trading Westbrook).

Second? It’s early, and this could change, but I suspect Clippers fans won’t have breakdowns every time Westbrook takes a chance that doesn’t work, which is bound to happen frequently. That’s just the type of player he is.

Plus, now that his gargantuan contract has been bought out and he’s basically playing for the veteran’s minimum with the Clippers, the “are you getting what you’re paying for” question no longer applies.

The Full Russ was on display Friday night, in the course of an historic and occasionally hysterical game between the Clippers and the Sacramento Kings, a 176-175 double-overtime Kings victory – no, that’s no typo – that was the second highest-scoring game in NBA history. It was basically what an All-Star Game might look like if players actually cared. They tried defending, honestly, but were just overmatched.

And while Westbrook’s stats weren’t eye-popping on such a crazy night, they were impressive given that he’d had just two days of practice with this group. He scored 17 points and, more significantly, had 14 assists, a sign that he’d already developed on-court compatibility with Kawhi Leonard – for instance, zipping a pass from the corner to Leonard for a wide-open 3-pointer out front – while picking up where he’d left off with Paul George from when the two were both in Oklahoma City. Given that Leonard finished the night with 44 points and George with 34, this was a good sign.

“He knew enough” of the offense from two days of practice, Coach Ty Lue said. “Knowing PG’s plays, knowing Kawhi’s plays, that’s the most important thing. So he picked those things up right away. There’s still a lot more that we can still incorporate and learn on the fly. But I thought he did a good job knowing the plays and knowing the play calls, and he did a good job with it.”

“What hurt us was (Sacramento’s) ball pressure, getting up the floor and picking up full court. That’s when we turned the basketball over. So to keep him in the game and on the floor to initiate because the pressure doesn’t bother him, I thought was key for us. And it was big. When he fouled out (with 1:49 left in the second overtime), it really hurt us.”

It is not insignificant that George and Leonard both lobbied for Westbrook, George particularly publicly and emphatically, and if the account provided by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst was accurate the two stars convinced Lawrence Frank to give Westbrook a shot.

Leonard sidestepped the question of how much input he had, but noted: “Once he got here, I just told him, be yourself and have fun out there. And I just believe in him, so (I’m) just trying to give him confidence and letting him know that we’re happy to have him.”

And maybe that’s the bottom line: With the Lakers, too often he was treated as a third wheel, his determination to play his style and his game considered a detriment. The Clippers expect and encourage him to push the pace and take chances, and while it’s to be determined whether that will ultimately be productive, that encouragement in itself might be liberating.

“I’m just trying to find ways to be effective while I’m on the floor and (to do) whatever’s asked of me, screening or whatever, rolling, handling, whatever that may be, cutting,” Westbrook said. “And I just try to do different things to impact the game and (use) my IQ to be able to make plays for others.

“… I see so many things that I’m thinking about now for when I go home and watch the film tonight, just how I can be able to help make the game even more easier for them so they don’t have to work as hard. And, you know, we’ll get there.”

He didn’t make any subtle references to his situation with the Lakers – the past is the past, right – but the contrast was obvious. He received a nice roar from a crowd announced as a 19,068 sellout when he was introduced with the starting lineup, not as loud as Leonard and George but loud enough. And he got a standing ovation as he came off the court at the end after fouling out as recognition for a full night’s work, 39:27 out of 58 possible minutes.

“I mean, it’s a blessing, you know, just the excitement in the building,” he said. “The enthusiasm from the fans and just the support that they have, not just for me but for our overall team, was great. And, you know, hopefully we can be able to keep that going as the season goes along. And I’ll do my part by playing as hard as I can, you know, when given the opportunity.

“… I think that’s something I don’t take for granted, being somewhere where given an opportunity to go play. Not just that, but the support of the organization, my teammates, the fans overall,” he said later, adding: “The support system around us was an all-time high.”

Interpret that as you will. Maybe it was a subtle reference to his former team. Maybe it wasn’t.

And maybe, with a different environment, we will see a better Russell Westbrook.

Those suggestions that the Clippers were crazy to take him on, or that he might be a net negative? Sure, it’s the ultimate small sample size of only one game, but you wonder if maybe their organization knows something we don’t.

jalexander@scng.com

17 points
5 rebounds
14 assists

Russ put in work as the Clippers fought a wild 2OT battle with the Kings on his debut 💪 pic.twitter.com/PJTuNxHM1x

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023

Filed under Clippers Jim Alexander NBA Sports

Clippers Fall To Kings In Second-Highest Scoring Game In NBA History

by pappa2200 25 Febbraio 2023 Comments0

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, center, and forward Harrison Barnes defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Clippers’ Paul George reacts to a foul from the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis shoots as Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, left, defends and guard Eric Gordon, right, watches during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook gets to the basket for a layup during the first half of their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, left, shoots as Clippers forward Paul George defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers forward Paul George, right, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard looks to pass the ball as the Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes, left, De’Aaron Fox (5) and Kevin Huerter defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, left, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, right, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers forward Norman Powell, right, shoots as Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard makes a buzzer-beating shot between the Sacramento Kings’ Davion Mitchell, left, and Trey Lyles at the end of the first quarter on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, center, shoots as Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, left, and forward Kawhi Leonard defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Clippers’ Paul George drives to the basket as the Sacramento Kings’ Kevin Huerter defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook scores on a layup as the Sacramento Kings’ Chimezie Metu, left, and De’Aaron Fox defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook walks down court during the first half of their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, center, shoots as Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, and center Mason Plumlee defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) celebrates along with forward Domantas Sabonis (10) after he scored as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard walks between them during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard attempts a layup in front of the Sacramento Kings’ Keegan Murray, left, and Davion Mitchell and Domantas Sabonis, far right, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, center, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, and guard Russell Westbrook defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Clippers’ Norman Powell is fouled on his shot by the Sacramento Kings’ Terence Davis, right, as the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox looks on during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, drives by Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis reach for a rebound during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Clippers’ Paul George reacts as he is fouled by the Sacramento Kings’ Kevin Huerter as the Kings’ Keegan Murray looks on during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers forward Paul George, left, grabs a rebound away from Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue reacts between Kawhi Leonard, left, and Nicolas Batum during the first half of their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook handles the ball as the Sacramento Kings’ Davion Mitchell defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, reaches to try to take a rebound away from the Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard calls out to his teammates as he brings the ball up the court during the first half of their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers forward Paul George, center, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, left, and forward Domantas Sabonis defend during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Sacramento Kings’ Trey Lyles scores on a layup past the Clippers’ Nicolas Batum during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard drives as the Sacramento Kings’ Kevin Huerter defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis scores in front of the Clippers’ Norman Powell during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers forward Norman Powell, center, shoots as Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu, left, and guard De’Aaron Fox defend during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes attempts a shot between the Clippers’ Eric Gordon, left, Terance Mann (14) and Kawhi Leonard, right, on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers forward Paul George, left, and Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox go after a loose ball during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers forward Paul George, top, and Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox go after a loose ball during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, center, loses his shoe as he takes a loose ball away from Clippers forward Paul George, right, during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, left, celebrates after scoring as Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. stands in the background during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk looks to pass as the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, left, and Norman Powell defend during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, right, reaches in on Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, shoots as Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, center, and guard Malik Monk defend during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook celebrates as his team takes the lead during their 176-175 double-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The lead changed hands several times as the teams played the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk makes a 3-point shot between the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, left, and Russell Westbrook to tie the score with 1.1 seconds left in regulation on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Monk scored a career-high 45 points and the Kings won, 176-175, in double-overtime. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, center, shoots and makes a 3-point shot to tie the score with 1.1 second left in regulation as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and guard Russell Westbrook defend during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Monk scored a career-high 45 points as the Kings prevailed, 176-175, in double overtime. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, left, celebrates after scoring as guard De’Aaron Fox stands by during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis, right, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, celebrates after scoring as Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes runs behind during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook celebrates after hitting a 3-point shot during their double-overtime game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles, left, shoots as Clippers forward Nicolas Batum defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk drives to the basket as the Clippers’ Paul George defends during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk celebrates after hitting a big shot during their double-overtime victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis, center, shoots as Clippers forward Paul George, left, and forward Nicolas Batum defend during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox drives to the basket in front of the Clippers’ Nicolas Batum (33) and Kawhi Leonard, right, as the Kings’ Harrison Barnes looks on during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk looks toward the scoreboard during the second overtime of their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings scored the last seven points of the game to win, 176-175. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Clippers’ Paul George saves a ball in front of the Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings’ Malik Monk reacts after a foul call during their double-overtime game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox drives to the basket as the Clippers’ Norman Powell defends during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox drives to the basket as the Clippers’ Terance Mann defends during their double-overtime game on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox, center, celebrates his go-ahead basket with Malik Monk, left, during the final minute of their 176-175 double-overtime victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, center, celebrates as time runs out in double overtime on his team’s 176-175 win as Clippers forward Norman Powell, left, and guard Eric Gordon show their frustration on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The scoreboard reflects the second-highest scoring game in NBA history during the final minute of the Sacramento Kings’ 176-175 double-overtime victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown, left, celebrates with Malik Monk (0) and De’Aaron Fox, right, after their 176-175 double-overtime victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook smiles on the bench during warm-ups before making his Clippers debut in their game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES — This game had all the vibes of a playoff contest with a packed arena, full of fans snapping cell phone pictures of the newest Clippers player in his first game and high expectations of a victory.

And Russell Westbrook didn’t disappoint in his debut in a 176-175 double-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena – the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. It was his first game since being traded by the Lakers two weeks ago and then signing with the Clippers earlier this week.

After receiving an enthusiastic standing ovation in the same arena where he previously had been booed, the point guard scored the Clippers’ first two points on free throws. He then dished off passes to Marcus Morris Sr. and Mason Plumlee. The Westbrook era had begun, not with a victory but with a wild, entertaining game that got away from the Clippers down the stretch.

After the Clippers led by as many as 14 points with 4:28 left in regulation, the hosts and the Kings engaged in a show of one-upmanship in two overtime periods. Kawhi Leonard finished with a season-high 44 points (one short of tying his career high) for the Clippers, but the Kings took advantage of 25 Clipper turnovers and came up with key baskets from Malik Monk (career-high 45 points) and De’Aaron Fox (42) in the final seconds.

Coach Tyronn Lue said the turnovers were the Clippers’ downfall when they still had a double-digit lead in regulation.

“I think we had three in a row, live ball turnovers, which allowed them to get out and get six easy points without having to work for it,” Lue said. “When you have 25 turnovers off 42 points, it’s tough to try to win that game.”

The Clippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining in the second overtime before the Kings (34-25) scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with 36.5 seconds remaining. The Clippers (33-29) had the final shot, but Nicolas Batum missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

Westbrook, who started, figured in both overtime periods, logging two baskets and two assists and finished with 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds (and seven turnovers) in 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the second overtime. His 14 assists matched Andre Miller’s 2002 effort for the most by a player in his Clippers debut.

“It was great just to get back on the floor,” Westbrook said. “Just obviously you want to win, that’s the most important part. I’ll watch the film, get ready to go on Sunday.”

After a tumultuous season and a half as a Laker, he appreciated the warm reception.

“It’s a blessing, just the excitement in the building,” Westbrook said. “The enthusiasm from fans and just the support that they have, not just for me, but for the overall team was great and hopefully we can keep that going as the season goes along. I’ll do my part by playing as hard as I can, when given an opportunity.”

Lue had said a day earlier that he just wanted “Russ to be Russ” and this looked a lot like the Russ of a few years ago, not recent history. He passed the ball, played defense, pushed the pace and took shots when it made sense.

“Whatever I need to do, he needs to do, the team needs to do to win, that is what we have to do,” Lue said. “And he is on board with that.”

As a bonus, the fans got to see Mason Plumlee make the most of his first start and second game as a Clipper. The 7-foot center, who was filling in for Ivica Zubac (knee), was omnipresent on the court – his long arms grabbing rebounds, disrupting shots, scrambling for loose balls all the while adding eight points and nine rebounds.

But the bulk of the night belonged to Leonard, who posted 30-plus points for the eighth time in his past 17 games. He shot 16 for 22 from the field (6 for 9 from 3-point range) and went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line in 46 minutes. His 21 points in the third quarter tied his career-high for most points in a quarter.

“I thought he did a great job getting to a spot with the 3-point shots and attacking the basket,” Lue said of Leonard.

Paul George contributed 34 points and 10 rebounds in 41 minutes and Norman Powell added 24 points.

George passed Dirk Nowitzki and moved into 15th place on the NBA’s all-time 3-point field goal list with his first long-range shot in the first quarter, and added four more before the game was over.

Leonard’s performance was overshadowed by Monk and Fox, who also had 12 assists and five steals and became just the 12th player since 1973-74 with 40 points, 10 assists and five steals in a game.

The Clippers fed off the crowd’s energy early to keep pace with the Kings, who have the best road record in the Western Conference. The first half was a shootout, with both teams shooting near the 60% mark in a close game. The half ended with the Clippers holding an 80-76 lead.

The game continued to be a high-scoring back-and-forth affair with the crowd cheering every Clippers basket and there were many. Their 26 3-pointers were a season-high and they shot 60.2% from the field. The Kings, who had four other players score in double figures, shot 58.6% overall and made 18 3-pointers.

But the momentum shifted in the final two minutes of regulation. The Clippers, who had a 145-131 advantage with 4:25 left, found their lead trimmed to 147-140 when Fox stole the ball from George and scored. Keegan Murray followed by intercepting a bad pass from George to score a layup and trim the lead to 147-142.

Powell was called for an offensive foul, leading to layups by Fox and Domantas Sabonis to cap a 10-0 Sacramento run that left the Clippers clinging to a one-point lead at 147-146 with 1:22 left.

After the teams traded free throws, Westbrook scored on a short jumper to give the Clippers a 151-148 lead. The Kings followed with a layup by Fox before George hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left.

The game headed to the first overtime after Monk’s 3-pointer tied it at 153 with 1.1 seconds left.

The Clippers had a 162-156 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first overtime before the Kings scored six straight to even it. Monk hit a pair of free throws with 20.4 seconds left to tie it at 164. The Clippers had a chance to win it, but Leonard was unable to convert a tip-in at the buzzer.

“I thought it was a great game, especially for the fans,” Lue said. “Crazy game – a lot of momentum shifts, but we did some good things and just defensively, I just thought we had a lot of breakdowns and the pace they play at, they put you in some tough positions with Fox being the head of the snake.”

Kings coach Brown agreed the game provided a little bit of everything.

“From a fan’s standpoint, I can see how this game would have been a lot of fun to watch,” Brown said. “There was unbelievable shot-making and great defense. There was high-level talent that was on display. Kudos to the players.”

RECORD-CHASING Detroit beat Denver, 186-184, in triple overtime on Dec. 13, 1983, in the highest-scoring NBA game. This was only the second time in the NBA’s 76-year history that both teams have scored at least 170 points. A team has scored 170 points in a regular-season game only seven times. … The teams combined for 44 3-pointers, tied for the most in a game in NBA history. Both teams also shot at least 58% from the field and were 80% or better from the foul line.

GAME OF THE YEAR CONTENDER.

Re-live every WILD moment from down the stretch of the 2nd highest scoring game in NBA history 🎬

Kings outlast the Clippers in 2OT, 176-175. pic.twitter.com/MiU7A8lViT

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023

17 points
5 rebounds
14 assists

Russ put in work as the Clippers fought a wild 2OT battle with the Kings on his debut 💪 pic.twitter.com/PJTuNxHM1x

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023

Clippers stars showed out in their WILD 2OT battle with the Kings tonight 👀

Kawhi: 44 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 6 3PM, 73% FG
PG: 34 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 5 3PM pic.twitter.com/MaE6RxfxJw

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023

De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk BALLED OUT tonight in the Kings 176-175 2OT win 🥶

Monk: 45 PTS, 6 AST, 6 3PM
Fox: 42 PTS, 5 REB, 12 AST, 5 STL

It’s the first time in Kings franchise history that 2 players have scored 40+ in the same game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ItKLnu4UES

— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023

NBA All-Star Game’s Lack Of Defense Reaches A New Low

by Vittorio Ferla 21 Febbraio 2023 Comments0

SALT LAKE CITY — There was one sequence on Sunday night that stirred an otherwise restless crowd at Vivint Arena, where a little competition emerged from a morass of largely undefended, half-speed highlights.

Jaylen Brown bided his time, dribbling up against his Boston Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum before launching a top-of-the-key 3-pointer in his face. On the jog back, Brown laughed underneath his black face mask as he put a hand toward the floor, the “too small” gesture for his 6-foot-8 fellow Celtic.

The fans, however, really got into it when Tatum issued a response nine seconds later, finding Brown on the other end and launching his own 3-pointer in his teammate’s face.

“We’ve played countless number of one-on-one games, scrimmages against each other,” said Tatum, who wound up taking home the Kobe Bryant MVP award with a record-setting 55 points. “We’ve always kind of brought the best out of each other. So it was a normal day for us. Just millions of people watching on one of the biggest stages, so we had a little fun with it.”

The biggest problem with the game, however, is that these fleeting moments were so few and far between.

Team LeBron coach Michael Malone might have been stirring up a little fire when he called the 184-175 Team Giannis win over his squad “the worst basketball game ever played,” but the comment prodded at a sentiment that seems to follow the All-Star Game every year. Less defense, less intensity, less watchable for the casual fan.

These cliched comments about NBA players not caring about defense might be less about the nature of the NBA than the nature of All-Star games: The NFL downgraded its annual Pro Bowl to a flag football event this year and the NHL has dealt with similar lack-of-intensity issues with its All-Star event. But it made some take notice that Sunday’s participants were among the game’s harshest critics.

“They put on a show for the fans,” Malone told reporters at his postgame scrum, “but that is a tough game to sit through, I’m not going to lie.”

There was no lack of highlights: Early on, LeBron James threw an alley-oop off the backboard to himself. Ja Morant and Lauri Markkanen had first-quarter highlight-reel dunks. Damian Lillard set a new bar for even his lengthy range with a shot not at the midcourt line, but rather behind it.

But other lowlights cast a shadow over the exhibition, designed at its core to showcase the best NBA talent. MVP candidate Luka Doncic during several intervals didn’t cross the halfcourt line with the rest of his team on offense. MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic was talking to someone on the sideline when an outlet pass from Doncic sailed past him, causing him to duck. Bam Adebayo, at one point, bounced an inbounds pass off of Jokic’s back.

For the league, that’s an eternal faucet drip: The game has always been heavier on highlights than hustle, especially among a group of All-Stars who want to avoid injury and take a mental break before the final stretch of the season. The NBA instituted the pick-the-team format, the Elam ending and finally bringing the player draft product to the stage this year to liven up the affair. But even then, fans were probably more interested to tune into the draft itself than the game.

And the playground live format? It got mixed reviews.

“It makes you want to work to become an All-Star captain,” Donovan Mitchell said, “so you get to choose and decide.”

The flat competition was a signal to many in the building and watching elsewhere to tune out. And there seems to be some understanding among the players and stakeholders that it’s a problem. Even though his matchup with Tatum was one of the game’s best moments, Brown had a similar sentiment to Malone.

“It was just a glorified layup line,” he said. “We got to figure out how to make the game a little bit more competitive.”

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