(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off an impressive comeback while playing shorthanded in overtime against Crypto.com Arena co-tenant the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Led by the dynamic leadership of LeBron James, they scored 35 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. All are team-highs, and both scoring and rebounding are the highest in the game.
Trailing by as many as 19 points, the Lakers fought back with a 39-24 run in the third quarter, sending the score into overtime and eventually taking a 3-2 lead. This is the first time the Lakers have defeated the Clippers in 12 games. This is the most important victory for James and the Clippers.
The Lakers and Clippers have become somewhat of a rival since James and Anthony Davis joined the Lakers, and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joined the latter. Both teams will be competing for a championship again this season, with the Clippers adding former Lakers Russell Westbrook and James Harden. This is another level of competition from 2019.
James talked about the nature of competition and why it’s important for the Lakers to show their quality against teams like the Clippers.
“I think every time you play against an opponent across the hallway, it’s always more than just another game,” James said. “Sometime next year when they go to the arena, they’ll be across town, but you know, for me, it’s always great to compete against the best, PG, Kawhi (Leonard) and Russ are three of the best out there. This league has never seen it. To be able to go out there against them and compete in the purple and gold and have them compete in their colors is an absolute blessing , you don’t take these moments for granted. So it’s definitely fun.
“I was so happy. I even said I thought, I want these guys to be able to play because that’s what the game is about, to be the best player in the game tonight. PG made some great plays to put the game away. into overtime. Kawhi was great from the start, taking the first 13 of 15. Russ had a great night, hit the jump shot, got into the paint and did what Russ did Things, and what me, AD, and everyone else we just tried to do to attack them as well. DLo was right there with us. C-Wood. It’s a big game for both teams. … Both teams got better and the fans got to see great performances.”
James believes a win like this is especially important because it’s the kind of game the team can look back on later in the season as a reminder of their resilience.
“You know, but I think for us, just having it in our back pocket, we can just say, cool, calm and collected. Whether we’re behind or not, whether we’re behind or not. Tonight, we got up seven point. I think we were like 12 minutes in or 21 minutes in or something like that. Let the lead slip away. Still be able to get to overtime and we were calm, kept our nerves and came back and won that game. So that was great for us as a whole. It’s all worked out for the season. It’s a marathon, but it’s good to get in those fights early, you know, you’re going to rely on some of them.”
The Lakers are still trying to find their rhythm early in the season, but it’s clear they have all the tools for a successful 2023-24 season. That starts with winning tough competitive games like Wednesday’s game against the Clippers.
Westbrook makes smart shot against Lakers
When asked about his career resurgence with the Clippers, Westbrook made it clear that he felt the Lakers weren’t allowing him to be himself on the court.
“Just playing my position, that’s it,” Westbrook said Tuesday when I asked him what it was about the Clippers that allowed him to get back on the court. “I’ve been a point guard since I’ve been in this league and always will be. I would say I’ve been pretty good at that position since I’ve been in this league and I appreciate the coaches trusting me to manage these guys. I I’m grateful to Paul, Vee and the rest of the guys here for allowing me to play my position and try to make the game easy for them.
“Honestly, it’s just that simple for me and being able to do this makes me feel the most comfortable where I’m supposed to be since I’ve been here.”
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