You might need missed it because it wasn’t nationally televised and did not finish till near 2 a.m ET, however the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings engaged in one of the crucial entertaining — and high-scoring — video games of the common season on Friday evening. The contest was a battle between the present third and fourth seeds within the Western Conference, with Sacramento main L.A. by two video games coming into the night, and the groups actually performed like there was postseason positioning on the road.
The Clippers held a lead all through a lot of regulation, and for some time it appeared like that they had it within the bag. However the upstart Kings remained inside putting distance till they made their transfer. They have been capable of mount a late comeback, thanks largely to the continued clutch play of De’Aaron Fox, in an effort to drive extra time. Five additional minutes weren’t sufficient, although, as two extra time intervals have been wanted for the Kings to finally pull out a powerful 176-175 victory … No, that is not a typo. Yes, you learn that accurately. That was the ultimate rating of what ended up being the second-highest scoring recreation in NBA historical past.
Here are 4 takeaways from the sport that has the basketball world buzzing:
Westbrook makes Clippers debut
Russell Westbrook made his debut along with his new staff on Friday evening, and as a substitute of easing the veteran guard into motion in an effort to let him acclimate to his new actuality, the Clippers employed the alternative method and threw him instantly into the fireplace. Westbrook began the sport for L.A., and he proceeded to play 39 minutes. During that point, each his positives and negatives as a participant have been on show. ‘
First, the nice: Westbrook pushed the tempo for the Clippers, and his capability to assault in transition and collapse a protection opened up ample alternatives for L.A.’s shooters. Westbrook completed with a game-high 14 assists to go together with 17 factors and 5 rebounds. He was additionally fairly environment friendly from the sector, as he related on seven of his 13 makes an attempt. But, he additionally turned the ball over seven instances and located himself misplaced on protection on a few events. If he can clear these areas up, then there’s some purpose for optimism for Clippers followers. Westbrook is much from an ideal participant, however the Clippers may show to be a stable match for the previous MVP.
Kings reserve guard Malik Monk turned within the recreation of his profession on Friday evening. In 40 minutes of motion off of the bench, Monk dropped a profession excessive 45 factors whereas taking pictures 62 p.c from the sector and 50 p.c from lengthy vary. Monk’s level manufacturing was particularly spectacular as a result of a bulk of it got here within the fourth quarter and extra time intervals. Monk dropped 16 within the fourth, six within the first extra time and eight within the second OT. Without his manufacturing, Sacramento does not stroll away with a win.
In addition to some stable taking pictures, Monk’s efficiency was highlighted by a few spectacular finishes on the rim, together with this two-handed jam that he threw down in transition in extra time:
This is the second time in Monk’s profession that he is had a 40-point recreation, as he scored 41 in opposition to the Nuggets as a member of the Lakers final April. The 45 factors that he scored in opposition to the Clippers on Friday evening are probably the most scored by a participant off of the bench this season.
Leonard posts excessive with Clippers
Kawhi Leonard did not set a profession excessive on Friday evening, however he did rating extra factors than he ever has earlier than in a Clippers uniform. He completed the competition with 44 factors, one shy of his private greatest. He scored 45 factors in opposition to the Jazz as a member of the Raptors in 2019.
In 46 minutes in opposition to Sacramento, Leonard missed simply six photographs from the ground and added 4 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals. Leonard has been rounding into type in latest weeks, and this was simply his greatest recreation of the present marketing campaign. It did not end in a win, however the Clips ought to really feel fairly good about their prospects shifting ahead understanding that Leonard remains to be able to handing over performances like this one. If they’ll get to the postseason at full power, they are going to be a harmful staff nobody goes to wish to see in a sequence.
Side word: Per StatMuse, his is the primary time ever that Leonard has misplaced a recreation that he scored 40-plus factors.
Fox continues to construct clutch marketing campaign
De’Aaron Fox, the main candidate to win the NBA’s inaugural Clutch Player of the Year Award, presently occupies the highest spot on NBA.com’s Clutch Ladder, and he bolstered his case along with his play down the stretch Friday evening.
Along with Monk, Fox made play-after-play down the stretch of this recreation to maintain the Kings in it, and finally assist them pull out a win. When Domantas Sabonis fouled out of the sport, the Kings turned to Fox, and he delivered, simply as he has all season. He completed the sport with 42 factors, 12 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 steals, and he additionally related on the shot that proved to be the sport winner:
Together, he and Monk made some Kings historical past by changing into the primary pair of teammates to each rating no less than 40 factors in the identical recreation.
