Before facing off against the Sacramento Kings in what was pegged as a crucial matchup on Sunday, the Clippers were dealt an unexpected blow—they had to hit the court without their guiding force, Tyronn Lue.
Lue had a lot to say about the importance of the game in his pre-game chats with the press but was ultimately sidelined due to back pain. This unexpected turn left assistant coach Brian Shaw to steer the ship.
The game turned out to be an absolute nail-biter, with Kawhi Leonard sinking a clutch left-handed shot just as the clock ran out, securing the Clippers a hard-fought 111-110 victory at the Intuit Dome. This win was crucial for keeping them in eighth place amidst the chaotic scramble in the Western Conference standings.
Leonard, warmly mobbed by his teammates following the game-winner, tallied 17 points and grabbed four rebounds. Meanwhile, James Harden made a significant impression with 29 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists, and Ivica Zubac contributed 22 points and snagged 14 boards.
On the Kings’ side, DeMar DeRozan led the charge with an impressive 31 points, alongside 10 assists and seven rebounds.
It appeared the Clippers were on the ropes when they trailed by seven points late in the game. However, Leonard was fouled while scoring with 1:40 on the clock, converting a crucial three-point play. Then, the Kings coughed up the ball, setting the stage for a Zubac dunk that inched the Clippers closer, narrowing their gap to 97-95.
Following a spate of missed attempts from both teams, Harden stepped up, sinking a floater to tie the game with 11.9 seconds left. The Clippers’ defense held firm, forcing Zach LaVine to miss and sending the pendulum into overtime with the score locked at 97-97.
The road ahead sees the Clippers hitting the road to face New Orleans, Miami, and Atlanta in their next three matchups.
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This article first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
