![]() With the Clippers leading 153-150 with only 8.5 seconds left in regulation and coach Tyronn Lue opting not to foul, Westbrook guarded inbounds passer Malik Monk, then turned his head to watch De’Aaron Fox dribble long enough to lose Monk beyond the far three-point line. Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox, left, celebrates after scoring during the second half Friday. Westbrook closed a breakneck first half with a left-handed finger-roll layup, then his drive in transition created enough room to dump off a pass to Norman Powell, whose three-pointer set a Clippers season high for points before halftime, at 80. He tried setting screens, so often a rarity of his game, even if they led to a pair of illegal defense calls, and pushed the ball upcourt when given a sliver of room. ![]() Just as important was what he cut out - the pull-up jump shots that rarely fell during his season-and-a-half in purple and gold. Westbrook cut into the lane with his drives, drawing a foul on his first foray into the paint. Sacramento leads the season series 2-1, with their final matchup next week. The Kings (34-25) remain third in the West, two spots ahead of the Clippers (33-29), but they are now separated by 2½ games. This was no minor stage on which to debut a new starter in Westbrook. What followed was the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, a 176-175 fever dream of points and pace displaying one improbable Sacramento Kings win, two overtimes, defense that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Sunday’s All-Star Game, Kawhi Leonard’s entire offensive arsenal en route to a season-high 44 points and the full Westbrook experience - his imprint left all over the debut of his fifth team in five seasons in ways that ran the spectrum from positive to puzzling. Situated within new digs and a new offense and surrounded by new teammates, the former Laker and newest Clipper prepared for his first opportunity to show a new side: One in which the former most valuable player could quell his most damaging traits, emphasize his most useful, all while raising the Clippers’ potential. White AirPods in his ears, his gaze locked onto the Sacramento highlights playing on a locker-room television, Russell Westbrook bobbed his head Friday night at a locker a few feet down the Arena hallway from his old one. ![]() Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, shoots over Sacramento Kings forwards Domantas Sabonis and forward Harrison Barnes during the first half of a 176-175 double-overtime loss Friday at Arena.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |