MANILA – For the third time in the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, the Clippers showed that they were the best team in Los Angeles.
This was after it renewed its mastery over the Los Angeles Lakers with a 118-94 beating on Thursday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Paul George anchored the Clippers’ blowout victory with 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac added 15 and 14 markers, respectively.
Rajon Rondo and Demarcus Cousins – who were with the Lakers last season – contributed 11 points each for the Clippers. Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson also added 10 points apiece.
The victory allowed the Clippers to occupy the third spot in the Western Conference with a 45-22 win-loss slate. The defending champion Lakers, on the other hand, dropped to the sixth spot with a 37-29 slate.
The Clippers were blazing on offense to start with George and Leonard hitting their shots for a 29-20 lead. It stretched further to 65-42 at the half with hits from Rondo, Cousins, and Zubac.
In the second half, the Clippers put the game from within the reach with George connecting his outside baskets before the Lakers made a rally in the fourth period to trim the final margin.
Kyle Kuzma finished with 25 points, while former Clippers center Montrezl Harrell added 14 markers for the Lakers, which lost seven of its last nine matches.
Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, moved up to the eighth spot in the Western Conference with a 34-33 slate following a 118-97 domination over Oklahoma City Thunder (21-46).
Stephen Curry continued his fine play for the Warriors with 34 points, Mychal Mulder added a career-best 25 markers, and Andrew Wiggins contributed 18 points.
BOX SCORE:
LA CLIPPERS 118 – George 24, Leonard 15, Zubac 14, Rondo 11, Cousins 11, Morris 10, Jackson 10, Mann 7, Kennard 6, Batum 5, Beverley 5, Ferrell 0, Oturu 0.
LA LAKERS 94 – Kuzma 25, Harrell 14, Drummond 9, McLemore 9, McKinnie 9, Caruso 8, Caldwell-Pope 6, Matthews 6, Davis 4, Morris 3, Cacok 1, Gasol 0, Antetokounmpo 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
29-20, 65-42, 92-71, 118-94./PN
