Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by the declare of Getty Photos
It gained’t mean critical without playoff success, however the L.A. Clippers earned temporary bragging rights in their have city by ending the season sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Clippers gained Thursday’s showdown at Staples Heart 118-94 and improved to 45-22 on the season with their 2d successive victory. Paul George led the capability in a balanced effort for the crew’s third soak up as many tries over the Lakers in 2020-21.
A solid exhibiting by Kyle Kuzma in LeBron James’ absence modified into as soon as no longer ample for the Crimson and Gold, who’re 37-29 general and an frightful 2-7 in their past 9 video games.
Additionally they misplaced Anthony Davis to a merit damage in the principle quarter and are now tied with the Portland Path Blazers in the scamper to connect a ways from the play-in match.
Considerable Participant Stats
- Paul George, G, LAC: 24 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST
- Ivica Zubac, C, LAC: 14 PTS, 8 REB
- Kawhi Leonard, F, LAC: 15 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST
- Kyle Kuzma, F, LAL: 25 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL
AD’s Damage Provides But Another Discipline for Struggling Lakers
When the NBA determined there could maybe be a play-in match for the Nos. 7-10 seeds in every convention this season, absolutely nobody notion the Lakers could maybe be in it. Finally, they are the defending champions with LeBron and Davis.
But or no longer it is a valid risk that grew to change into extra likely when head coach Frank Vogel told reporters Talen Horton-Tucker (calf) would join James (ankle) and Dennis Schroder (health and security protocols) on the checklist of gamers sidelined for crucial merit-to-merit video games in opposition to the Clippers and Path Blazers.
That figured to position the stress firmly on the shoulders of Davis, however things got critical worse when he exited in the principle quarter and modified into as soon as dominated out with merit spasms.
With out the eight-time All-Big establish on the floor, the Lakers couldn’t attach tempo and fell in the benefit of by 23 sides by halftime. They regarded utterly misplaced on the defensive facet, and Kuzma modified into as soon as the ideal one who found the relaxation of a rhythm on the offensive cease till the game modified into as soon as out of hand in the early going.
Kuzma continued to play properly for stretches, however the 2d half modified into as soon as basically taking part in out the string on one other inevitable loss.
The loss, coupled with the Dallas Mavericks’ take over the Brooklyn Nets, capability the Lakers are one sport merit of Luka Doncic’s squad and tied with Portland. To make matters worse, they play the Path Blazers on Friday and could maybe maybe no longer beget Davis, James, Schroder and Horton-Tucker. It is refined to query them a hit that one, which could maybe maybe give Portland the season tiebreaker.
The defending champions accurate could maybe be heading for the stress-packed play-in match.
Balanced Effort Adequate for Clippers Against Overmatched Lakers
While most of the headlines coming into Thursday’s sport targeted on the Lakers’ precarious space in the standings, the Clippers had their have concerns.
This modified into as soon as accurate Kawhi Leonard’s fourth sport since April 9, and the crew misplaced three of its outdated four. L.A. is locked in a battle with the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed and is absolutely searching for to place extra consistency earlier than the playoffs.
The Clippers wasted no time finding some consistency in opposition to the Lakers and jumped out to a commanding lead in the principle half with a neighborhood effort. George space the tone by catching hearth from deep, draining a 3 over Alex Caruso, facilitating when defenders collapsed on him and rebounding.
From there, extinct Lakers DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo offered an instantaneous in fact handy the bench, Marcus Morris Sr. found his stroke, and the Clippers had been in plump control even when Leonard modified into as soon as relatively peaceful by his elevated standards.
Leonard impacted the game on the boards and along with his passing, however he did now not have to take over at any time with the house crew locked in from the beginning.
All five starters done in double figures as Ivica Zubac joined Cousins and Rondo as extinct Lakers who played properly in opposition to their traditional crew. He controlled the paint down low, George and Leonard had been too critical on the fly, and the shorthanded Lakers never had of endeavor.
While the Clippers will face greater competitors in the playoffs, including in a likely matchup with the Crimson and Gold, they did now not mess spherical and built momentum heading toward the postseason by handling an overmatched opponent.
What’s Subsequent?
The Lakers are on the Path Blazers on Friday, whereas the Clippers host the Novel York Knicks on Sunday.
