In good time, the NBA League came back to us tonight (Tuesday through Wednesday) with two huge games. The Clippers managed to spoil the Lakers’ celebrations around the new championship rings, with a 109-116 victory, and in the first game Brooklyn declared intentions when it dismantled Golden State 99-125.
Los Angeles Lakers (1: 0) – Los Angeles Clippers (0: 1) 116: 109
If we put our finger on one thing that the Clippers were missing last season to go all the way to, it’s a character. And Paul George could have helped more. In her first game of the 2020/21 season, she got both and huge. Just like in the last playoff, the Clippers again dropped a big advantage (22), but this time they knew how to show character, stop the avalanche and come out with the victory, much thanks to George Shalat with 33 points (10 of 12 from the field and 26 points at half The second).
Already in the first minutes it could be seen that the Lakers’ head was in the rings they received before the game, and the city rival took advantage of that. Even before Monterz Harrell realized he was no longer playing for the Clippers, his ex rose to a 5:16 lead and at the end of a one-sided first quarter her lead was 19:39.
The champion woke up and even managed to erase all the difference, but precisely when she reached the well and the result was 75:75, she did not drink from it. In stark contrast to what happened to them against Denver in the Western Conference semifinals, this time the Clippers were unmoved and Paul George’s personal 2:10 run (15 points only in the third quarter) gave the Clippers a 78:89 lead over the last 12 minutes.
In the decisive quarter Kwai Leonard also joined George’s play and pinned some Sally Clutch that widened the gap and closed out a story in a game where the Lakers didn’t even lead for a second. Kwai, by the way, finished with 26 and Serge Ivka looked great with 15 in 20 minutes. Ivica Zubac (11), Lou Williams (11) and Patrick Beverly (10) also scored in double digits in the winners’ ranks.
On the other side LeBron James and Anthony Davis scored just 40 points together, while the new duo impressed. Earl finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Dennis Schroeder recorded 14 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Just like last year, the Lakers open the season with a loss in the City of Angels derby, and they will hope to get their first Christmas win against Luka Doncic and Dallas.
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– LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 23, 2020
Brooklyn (0: 1) – Golden State (1: 0) 99: 125
Even before the big West derby we got a signal from the East: Brooklyn is here to make noise, and lots of it. Brooklyn easily defeated Golden State and opened the new era on the right foot, with very many expectations for the way forward.
Starting from the opening Brooklyn has introduced electrifying basketball, and it has done so thanks to its two biggest stars – Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Already at the end of the first quarter, the two scored more points cumulatively (27) than all the Warriors (25), and the hosts led 25:40.
The duo’s incredible ability caught up with the rest of Steve Nash’s players (who made their official debut on the lines) and Golden State had a hard time finding answers, certainly without Draymond Green missing due to injury. Charis Lavbert brought in new energies from the bench, as did Jarrett Allen who locked the point and on the other side the Warriors, who trailed by 38 points at the peak, suffered a very weak shooting west that could not make them come back.
Kyrie finished with 26 points, 24 of which were scored in the first half, and KD assisted him with 22 (10 of which were scored in the first five minutes) against the Exiles. Lavert looks like one who can definitely win the sixth player of the season title, with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 24 minutes.
Among the losers, Steph Kerry scored 20 points on 33.3% from the field and 10 assists, and the two who are supposed to replace Clay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Obra, scored 7 of 30 in the aggregate (23%). Steve Kerr will want to remember from this loss only rookie James Weissman who played for the first time in over a year and looks great with 19 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes.
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