Los Angeles – This was going to be one of those “right” games, an opportunity for clippers to fix issues that threatened to exclude well to complete the last two months.
Washington Wizards, the winner of just nine matches this season, was the right opponent to do so.
And the clippers did not ruin the opportunity, with the need to win 140–115 at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night.
But the feel-gud victory got angry with the news that Russell Westbrook faced a fragmented left hand during the first half, causing his boblehead night to deteriorate.
There was no word ahead of clippers when Westbrook would be out.
Unlike its last eight matches, however, clippers (37–20) cut their turnover (nine), worked hard on defense, especially in infection, and to win back to shooting 40.6% from the field 57.4% and 3-point range. He had lost four of his last eight matches including the last two.
It became easier than returning the all-star wing Paul George to court.
George returned after recalling the last two matches due to the irritation of Meniscus in his left knee and quickly formed for a lost time. He had 17 points in the first half and ended with 22 points, six rebounds and three assistance in 30 minutes.
George Back loaded some from fellow all-star Kavi Leonard, who recently carrying the team. It is not that Leonard did not do his share. He scored 27 points to go with nine rebels and four assistance.
James Harden led clippers with a team-high 28 points on 9-13 shooting (6 to 9 from 3-point range) and eight assistance. He scored 21 points in the second quarter.
Instead of being discouraged by Westbrook’s injury, the clippers focused their attention in the second half. Coach Tiren Lew said that he reminded his team before the game that if they simply compete at a high level, “everything else will take care of himself.” He listened, raised his lead up to 28 points in the third quarter.
The huge advantage enabled Lue to play lower-use bones, including high-use highland, in the third quarter and at the beginning of the fourth. Unlike his previous game, there was no dramatic return by his opponents, despite a large game of Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma led the Vizards (9-51) with 32 points on 13 -19 shooting (5 for 7 from behind the arch), while Jordan Polay came out of the bench for 16 points. Denny Avdija added 14 points and Marwin Bagle III had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
LUE said that two nights before, there was no use in giving home to many of his mistakes in the loss of four points, so he did not say much about it. He did not remember him how he took a 21 -point lead in the fourth quarter or his infection defense led the sting after the sting.
The coach also did not sit through the team’s film review.
“When we have a bad loss, just throw it away,” Lu said. “I just threw it away because I am thinking about it, and we got to move forward. I usually show the film when we win. ,
If she is smart, Lue should stream Friday’s game on a loop for the next 24 hours.
Lu said that he reminded his team before the game that if they simply compete at a high level, “everything else will take care of himself.” He listened, raised his lead up to 28 points in the third quarter.
And Vizards went out of his 15th continuous loss from Crypto.com Arena.
Westbrook injury
The 35 -year -old Westbrook had six points and there was a assistance in 10 minutes from the bench before 8:10 left in the second quarter.
Westbrook has played in every game for clippers this season, which assists 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 in 23 minutes. He moved to the bench for Harden after the November 1 trade, but remained an important part of the lineup as the clippers chose their first NBA title.
More to come to this story.