LOS ANGELES – Russell Westbrook’s Clippers debut will never be forgotten but not exactly for the reasons he and the team had hoped.
Westbrook started the game and finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 5 rebounds but the Clippers lost to the Sacramento Kings, 176-175 in double overtime. It was the second highest scoring game in NBA history and the most points scored in a game in 40 years.
Despite the loss, there were two main key points: A newly built Clippers offense broke the franchise single-game scoring record, and the team may have found the veteran point guard they needed in Westbrook.
Westbrook managed to break down a swift Sacramento defense for the Clippers after playing with the Lakers for the past season and a half and looked comfortable in his first game playing alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
“He knew enough,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “Knowing PG’s plays and knowing Kawhi’s plays, that’s the most important thing. And there’s still a lot more we can incorporate and learn on the fly.”
How it happened: The game looked finished with the Clippers leading by 14 points with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Kings bounced back and tied the game in regulation and continued to overcome two more six-point deficits in both overtime periods before securing the improbable comeback win.
Malik Monk sank a late-game three-pointer to extend the clock for Sacramento and send the game into the first overtime. A 175-169 advantage was not rough to hold the Kings heading into double overtime. Due to turnovers, fouls and a missed final shot, the Clippers lost the grip on their lead and De’Aaron Fox scored the game-winning jump shot.
What it means: The Clippers drop to 33-29 and move to the fifth seed in the Western Conference. They are just a 1/2 game up on the Dallas Mavericks for the sixth seed and are a 1/2 game behind the fourth seeded Phoenix Suns and 2.5 games back of the third seeded Kings.
Hits: Kawhi Leonard continued to put up impressive numbers, scoring a season-high 44 points and the sixth 40-point game in his career, He had six three pointers and went 16 of 22 from the field. Paul George had 34 points and 10 rebounds while Mason Plumlee added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Monk led Sacramento with a career-high 45 points while De’Aaron Fox added 42 for the Kings.
Misses: The Kings outscored the Clippers, 88-48, in points in the paint and 41-17 on fast break points.
Stat of the game: The highest scoring game in NBA history is still a triple overtime game on Dec. 13, 1983 when the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets, 186-184. It’s the only time a team has scored over 180 points in an NBA game. The Kings are now third on that list with 176 with the Clippers coming in at fourth with 175. The game also finished with 44 three-pointers combined, tied for the most in league history.
Up next: The Clippers have one day to recover and recoup before heading to Colorado to play the Denver Nuggets for another Western Conference matchup on Sunday. The Clippers are 0-3 in the season series with Denver. The Nuggets are the top seed in the Western Conference and 8-2 in their last 10 games.
