Clippers-Kings: two overtimes and 351 points in a crazy game

The Sacramento Kings made the debut of Russell Westbrook bitter this Friday in the Los Angeles Clippers and they had a crazy and surreal match of fierce and voracious attacks from both teams, which was settled after two sequels and finished with the second-highest combined scoring in NBA history (175-176).

The 351 points between the two teams in this colorful matchup was just behind the all-time league record still held by the 1983 Detroit Pistons-Denver Nuggets who finished 186-184 after three overtimes (370 points between the two).

Former Los Angeles Lakers like Malik Monk shone in Sacramento with 45 points and 6 triples off the bench, while De’Aaron Fox excelled with 42 points and 12 assists. For his part, Kawhi Leonard had a great performance with 44 points (on an impressive 16 of 22 shooting and 6 of 9 three-pointers), and Paul George supported him with 34 points (including 5 three-pointers) and 10 rebounds.

The Angelenos shot an incredible 60.2% from the field and an equally impressive 57.8% on 3-pointers (26-of-45), but fell with 25 turnovers against the Kings who weren’t far behind in terms of accuracy (58.6% efficiency).

After leaving the back door of the Lakers after a stormy year and a half, Westbrook made his debut with the neighbors and rivals purple and gold and added 17 points (7 of 13 shooting), 5 rebounds and 14 assists, but lost 7 balls. .

The Clippers (fifth in the West, 33-29) and the Kings (third, 34-25) started fast paced party. Fox and Kevin Huerter opened fire early for the visitors and Domantas Sabonis showed quality inside while Kawhi and George repeated for the home side. Westbrook started out eager to please his new fans and was more interested in distributing the ball than going to the rim.

With a relentless give and take, the Clippers muscled out an 11-0 run from their second unit, the Kings responded with a two-plus-one from Trey Lyles and Kawhi, fantastic with 13 points and 5-of-5 shooting, capped off a very entertaining first quarter with a basket at the buzzer ( 40-40). Without a word on either team’s defense, the Clippers continued their three-point idyll in the second quarter to go 12 of their 21 points in the first half.

Sacramento was not afraid and grabbed the unstoppable Sabonis for the internal rotation of its rivals diminished by the absence of Ivica Zupac. However, the Lithuanian giant had to go to the bench after his fourth foul 3 minutes before the end of the first half.

The match ended with a massive 80-76 and for two teams in the surrounding area, 60% of shots are successful. Three triples in a row between Kawhi and George they set a threatening 89-78 after only two minutes of the third quarter. In addition, Sabonis earned his personal five after an offensive foul, but Mike Brown, who received a technical in protest of the decision, decided to continue the lane.

The great protagonist of the third period was Kawhi, titanic with 21 points in that quarter alone with a flawless 8 of 8 shots from the field (5 of 5 for threes). With the fiery game of Sabonis, Fox put the team on the back, and Sacramento took advantage of the countless turnovers of the Clippers and reached the outcome with options (117-110). Stupidity in the attack of this game continued to list names: Nico Batum was murderous from the three, and Monk appeared in the second unit of the Kings.

The Clippers went on a 14-run lead in the final period, but three consecutive turnovers left the score in a very narrow margin (147-146 with 1.22 left). George got +3 from free throws, but Monk, fascinating with 16 points in the last quarter, forced overtime with a three-pointer with just one second left (153-153). Monk was thrown and continued to be the protagonist, and the Kings, despite the elimination of Sabonis due to a foul, reached the second overtime after George missed a shot to win (164-164).

In the second overtime The Clippers finally seemed to have tied the win (+6 three minutes to the end), but the endless turnovers finally condemned them and the Fox-Monk duo brought the Kings a historic victory with astonishing cheerfulness in the last part.