The Clippers defeat the Nets by scoring the game’s last 22 points

The NBA season is extensive, with some games fading into obscurity, marked only by box scores. However, the Clippers recently played a memorable game at the halfway point of the season. Despite a sluggish performance in the first three quarters, they orchestrated a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter, overcoming an 18-point deficit to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 125-114 at Crypto.com Arena. The crowd erupted in excitement.

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Even with an 11-point deficit and only 5:33 remaining, the Clippers, led by a lineup featuring Norman Powell and established stars like James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, refused to give up. Coach Tyronn Lue, following a four-day break, stuck with his key players instead of substituting in reserves.

The turning point came when the Clippers, during a timeout, refocused and managed to stop the Nets from scoring again. A historic 22-0 run ensued, with Kawhi Leonard contributing 14 crucial points. His efforts included a 10-foot jumper with 2:50 left, giving the Clippers their first lead, and decisive three-pointers with 1:04 and 29.9 seconds remaining. The Nets’ lead crumbled, and the Clippers secured a remarkable victory. Harden reflected on the game, saying, “Got some stops, and everything else is history.”

Paul George acknowledged a sluggish start, but emphasized a dramatic turnaround, describing it as a distinct game. In the first half, the trio of Leonard, George, and Harden struggled, collectively making only six of their 22 shots. Westbrook and Mann provided crucial energy, compensating for the star players’ early struggles. Harden, with 24 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, played a pivotal role after halftime, while Leonard and George contributed 21 and 12 points, respectively. Westbrook recorded 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Reflecting on the season, key moments include a starting lineup change on Nov. 17, coinciding with Harden’s game-winner ending a losing streak, the low point on Nov. 27 against Denver, George’s game-winner against Golden State sparking a winning streak, and victories against Utah, New Orleans, and Denver breaking long losing streaks. Another significant chapter unfolded in the Sunday matinee, where the Clippers staged an improbable comeback, relying on an unconventional lineup to improve their overall record to 27-14 and an impressive 24-7 in their last 31 games.

The Westbrook-George-Harden-Leonard-Powell lineup, relatively untested with only 12 minutes of play before Sunday, had previously outscored opponents by just one point. Coach Lue had been cautious about deploying smaller lineups due to rebounding challenges. Despite the quartet’s initial struggles over 118 minutes together, they delivered a game-changing performance in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 unanswered points.

Expressing satisfaction, George remarked on the enjoyment of playing alongside Hall of Famers, highlighting the camaraderie and success achieved during those crucial minutes.

It served as the emphatic conclusion to a fourth quarter where the Clippers dominated Brooklyn, outscoring them 41-15.

Westbrook noted the shift in aggression, highlighting how the Clippers transitioned from being on the defensive earlier in the game to becoming the aggressors in the fourth quarter. He credited the team’s offensive and defensive aggressiveness, emphasizing their success in utilizing size, attacking the paint, and making effective decisions. This shift, as Westbrook observed, completely altered the momentum of the game.

Despite facing a team with long-armed wings and a high-rate switching defense, the Nets had limited the Clippers to their lowest shooting percentage in November and disrupted their offense for three quarters. George acknowledged the team’s ability to put up 125 points despite a slow start, expressing confidence in the team’s limitless potential.

However, the absence of starting center Ivica Zubac, a key rim protector, had a notable impact on the Clippers’ defense. Their defensive rotations were slower without Zubac, allowing Brooklyn to jump to a 16-0 lead within the first five minutes of the game. Although the Clippers managed to tie the score at 18 with Mann’s crucial threes, Brooklyn re-established a 16-point lead before halftime. The Nets took advantage of the Clippers’ defensive lapses, attempting and making numerous three-pointers, holding a 15-point lead entering the final quarter.

Westbrook’s finger-roll layup in the third quarter narrowed the gap to 80-71, but Brooklyn responded swiftly, with Dinwiddie passing the ball for a layup by Cam Johnson before Westbrook’s shot had barely settled into the net. The absence of Zubac’s defensive presence was evident in the Clippers’ struggles, and despite their offensive efforts, the Nets maintained control until the remarkable fourth-quarter turnaround.

In the final quarter, as Westbrook executed an open-court dunk with seven minutes on the clock and center Daniel Theis followed up with a dunk on the subsequent possession, the Clippers narrowed the gap to seven points. However, Brooklyn responded promptly with baskets on each occasion.

Looking back, it marked Brooklyn’s final resistance, and simultaneously signaled the beginning of the Clippers’ resurgence.

Harden reflected on the team’s performance, stating that when they are fully engaged and execute the necessary defensive measures to secure consecutive stops, they become an exceptionally formidable and virtually unbeatable team.