Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Los Angeles, CA–
When you look any NBA team that has two All Stars on the floor at any time, it is a wonder why they are not one of the better teams in the NBA. Tonight, the Clippers proved that when you have that veteran leadership late in the game in both Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. This is a team that started the season a lot like the Wizards at 6-21, but since then they have bounced back and improve to a 11-9 at home with the victory tonight.
Leonard scored 33 points to lead the Clippers, but it was his push in the final 3 minutes of the game that was the difference in the game tonight, and the Wizards core of young players were outmatched for most of that time.
Leonard used his ability to drive into the paint and also found him wide open on the wing on two of those occasions in route to 11 consecutive points for the Clippers in the fourth quarter. It was his 3-pointer with 6:14 remaining in the game that Los Angeles a 110-95 lead and really all they needed to hold off the sluggish offense of the Wizards.
Kyshawn George continues to show his ability to be a leader for the Wizards scoring 23 points and Khris Middleton added 17 for the Wizards who lost their fourth consecutive game and fell to 0-2 on a four-game road trip.
The Wizards also had to play without one of their main scoring threats in Alex Sarr, as he was ejected with 1:45 before halftime after picking up his second tech of the game.
What we have seen in quite a few games this season is the Wizards are able to open on nice lead at some point in the game but fail to hold it against quite a few of the Western Conference teams.
Tonight, it was the second half woes that spelled the demise of the Wizards as their 30-13 run opening the second half was not enough to close out the game.
Washington continues on their west coast road trip Friday night against the Kings.
