Victory of hope for better days in the 2023-24 NBA season. Looking for a better position in the Western Conference, the LA Clippers visited the Sacramento Kings and came out on top by winning 131-117.
The highlights of the LA team were Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, who shined again with the new shirt in the league.
With an overwhelming start, Harden didn’t take long to show signs of what would become his best performance of the season. Encouraged, the LA star scored four three-pointers and scored no less than 17 points in the first quarter alone, the second-highest score by a franchise player this season.
If Harden’s inspired night wasn’t enough, Kawhi Leonard also tried to repeat the performances that made him one of the league’s main stars. With the duo on the same page, the visitors took a 72-50 lead before the break.
Back in the second half, Paul George, Ivica Zubac, and Russell Westbrook, who came off the bench, also helped the Clippers manage the advantage. On the other side, the Kings, who were coming from behind after beating the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Cup, were pinning their hopes on De’Aaron Fox.
Not even the excellent performance of the Sacramento point guard was enough to prevent the victory of the LA franchise, which is recovering after the defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the last round, with its eighth victory in 17 games. The Kings suffered their seventh defeat after a run of two matches without losing.
Statistics:
Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox: 40 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists;
Malik Monk: 15 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists
Los Angeles Clippers
Kawhi Leonard: 34 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists;
James Harden: 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists
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