Without Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell or Ivica Zubac, but with the French Nicholas Batum and especially Moussa Diabate in their five, the Clippers received the Wizards at an advanced time. The kind of match that generally struggles to seduce or, at the very least, to be spectacular.
New illustration this Saturday, because this meeting was, let’s say, not the most qualitative. She will at least have had the merit of offering us a money time thriller, from which emerged victorious the players of Los Angeles (102-93).
A marked success with the seal of Kawhi Leonard (31 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals), whose rise continues over the days, while Luke Kennard (20 points) played the X factors off the bench.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Kawhi Leonard, exemplary captain of the California ship. Slowly, but surely, “The Klaw” is gaining momentum with the Clippers, undefeated for four games when he plays. Floating first in the first half and at the start of the third quarter, to keep his team afloat and bring it up to the level of the Wizards, then raising the tone in the last act, to leave Washington on the side with his money time of boss. Given what he does on offense and defense – admittedly irregularly –, we understand better why Los Angeles goes 9-2 when his All-Star winger is in uniform …
— the money time turns to the advantage of Los Angeles. Thanks in particular to Kawhi Leonard, therefore, well supported by Nicolas Batum and Luke Kennard, the Clippers were able to make the difference in the last five minutes against these eye-catching but limited Wizards. From 87-87, Tyronn Lue’s men thus tightened the screw in defense and placed the ball in the hands of Leonard, to finish on a 15-6. Especially since Kennard also took advantage of all the attraction he generates to create shifts for Californian shooters, like Batum. Too messy, the players from the capital never recovered afterwards.
— Nothing new for Washington. The matches follow and look alike for the Wizards, defeated for the ninth time in a row. Unable to hold an advantage, because they are constantly caught over the meetings without managing to react, the men of Wes Unseld Jr. continue their fall in the standings. Things are not likely to go well, because they still have to play four games in the West (including one tomorrow against the Lakers), before returning home. Even the return of Bradley Beal could not solve everything, faced with so much irregularity on each side of the field…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Luke Kennard. If Nicolas Batum, Terance Mann and Amir Coffey, even Marcus Morris and Brandon Boston Jr. in sequences, brought beautiful things with all their energy and their fighting spirit, it is the Clippers sniper who best supported Kawhi Leonard this evening . Her outside address (4/6) has often woken up Californians out of the game in the first half, before she continues to punish the Wizards in the second half. Equally valuable and aggressive in the money timethanks to his ability to carry the ball, the rear of Los Angeles therefore delivered a full game.
⛔ Washington’s second half. Few players stood out on the Wizards side in this game and it was probably worse after the break. Leading ten points in the first period, the teammates of Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma have gradually been caught up by the Clippers, in control and accustomed to reversing badly embarked situations for a few seasons. This was seen on the return from the locker room, when Kawhi Leonard and others set the bar high on defense, to bring down Washington’s insolent success, while making the powder speak at 3-pts. Guaranteed knockout for the DC franchise
THE FOLLOWING
Los Angeles (18-14) : reception of Charlotte, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (04:30).
Washington (11-19) : back to back in Los Angeles, but against the Lakers, on the night of Sunday to Monday (03:30).
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