New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Clippers - Game 24

New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Clippers- Game 24

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (12-12)  |  Los Angeles Clippers (12-11)

 

The first round of this season’s Battle of Los Angeles went in favor of the Clippers by a final score of 119-115.

 

LeBron James returned to the lineup after clearing health and safety protocols when it was determined that his test was a false positive. Dwight Howard got the start at center in this contest as a coach’s decision had DeAndre Jordan inactive.

The game began with the Clippers getting off to a fast start with Serge Ibaka and Marcus Morris sinking threes for the team’s first points of the game. Then, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook dropped mid-range shots to keep the gap at two points. James tied the game at eight with 7:18 with a dunk off of Howard, but the Clippers began to roll.

Reggie Jackson hit a three to untie the game, while Ivica Zubac sank two free throws, and a mid-range jumper by Paul George suddenly put the Clippers up by seven. With a minute left in the first quarter, Carmelo Anthony hit a three to cut the lead to four. Luke Kennard responded with a two-point shot, but Westbrook answered with a three to make it a three-point game. Anthony sank another jumper to end the quarter with the Lakers trailing 23-22.

The second quarter started with Isaiah Hartenstein hitting a short shot to open the scoring, but Anthony tied the game by drawing a shooting foul from downtown and sinking all three free throws. The Clippers broke the tie with four free throws from Eric Bledsoe and George. Halfway through the quarter, the Lakers trailed by five until Austin Reaves executed an alley-oop layup after catching a lob from Talen Horton-Tucker. The Clippers started to pull away late in the second quarter as Jackson took a four-point lead and turned it into an eight-point lead with four straight points.

Zubac made a short shot with 1:30 remaining in the half to extend the lead to 11 for the Clippers, but the Lakers tried to fight back. Wayne Ellington hit his first three of the game, followed by a dunk from Davis to cut the lead to six. Then, after a Jackson jumper, Ellington hit another three to cut the lead to five.

 

Two Davis free throws ended the half with the Clippers holding the slight edge over the Lakers 53-50.

 

After a scoreless minute to start the second half, Howard got the scoring started with a dunk to make it a one-point game. George and Ibaka responded with five combined points before James and Westbrook hit threes to tie the game at 58.

Morris drained two straight threes of his own aside from a free throw from Davis to open up a five-point lead once more for the Clippers. Thanks to an Ibaka three, the Clippers extended the lead to eight with five minutes left in the third quarter. Kennard extended the lead to 10 with a three with 2:45 remaining in the quarter, while George added two more points to the challenge the Lakers faced.

In the quarter’s final minute, Davis and Westbrook each scored two points on the last two possessions for the Lakers. However, the Clippers showed better overall in the third quarter and extended their lead to 87-79.

Malik Monk started the fourth quarter with a three, only to be answered by Jackson scoring two points in the paint the following possession. James tried to keep the Lakers close by hitting a three following a foul from Terance Mann, but the Clippers continued to respond to each offensive attack by the Lakers. As a result, the Clipper lead extended back to seven and stayed there as the quarter reached the 7:00 mark.

With 7:01 left, Monk hit a three to cut the lead back to four, followed by Davis free throws that made it a 100-98 ballgame. The Lakers got to within one twice in the following minute, but Clipper threes answered both times. With 2:15 remaining in the quarter, Anthony hit a big three to make it a one-point game, only for Kennard to hit a three one minute later. Kennard caught the hot hand at the end of the game as another three answered a Davis alley-oop dunk. James sank a jumper, but Morris iced the game with a three with 7.6 seconds left, ultimately giving the Clippers the win 119-115.

The Lakers had a tough outing against their Staples Center counterparts but had five players in double figures led by Davis with a double-double of 27 points and ten rebounds. James also had a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Monk with 20 points off the bench. Anthony scored 13 points while Westbrook added 10 points.

The Clippers had six players score in double figures, led by Morris with 21 points, while Kennard and George added 19 points each. Jackson scored 16 points, Zubac had 12 points, and Hartenstein contributed 11 points.

 

The Lakers will remain on home court as their next game is Tuesday, December 7th, and will feature a rematch against the Boston Celtics. The game will start at 7:00 and can be seen on TNT and Spectrum SportsNet.

Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                         Lakers vs Clippers                                                         

– Matt Dobbs – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Matt on Twitter @RecordBowlerFSM

Follow The Franchise on social media

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube