The Los Angeles Clippers were defeated by the Atlanta Hawks 110 x 93 at the Crypto.com Arena, in Los Angeles, California. With the full squad, the Clippers lost at home to DeJounte Murray’s Hawks, as the franchise’s main player – Trae Young – is out of action.
The match featured all of the Clippers’ great personalities. Paul George, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Invica Zubac. The bench, however, was missing with the absence of Norman Powell, apart from an injury to the lower part of his left leg.
The visiting team dictated the pace of the game from early on, attacking the rim whenever there was an opening, looking for Bogdan Bogdanovic to take shots from the perimeter and working in mid-range while Bruno Feliciano or Clint Capela held the pivot in the paint to avoid help from the man on the line. nigga close to the rim.
The Hawks were ready for the game and managed to hold Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to a combined 30 points at halftime.
On the offensive side of the ball, DeJounte was the scorer of the game with 21 points, demonstrating coolness and intelligence in decision-making. In one of the most notable plays of the game, Murray hits a three-pointer with the time of possession almost up and Paul George in front of him, contesting the shot.
Dejounte stays cool at the end of the shot clock. pic.twitter.com/p3RqnO850G
— Bally Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnBally) March 18, 2024James Harden scored his first basket in the last quarter and made history
In a performance below expectations from the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the main players was blank in the game until the last quarter.
With his 25,729th career point, James Harden surpassed Vince Carter for sole possession of 20th place on the @NBA's all-time points list. pic.twitter.com/o3IRBDQQ0x
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 18, 2024James Harden found the first basket just after 27 minutes on the court, something unexpected for a player of Barba’s caliber. The first points came on a platter.
Harden entered, made the shot and was fouled, going to the free throw line and scoring three points on a play that was initially intended for two points. Recently, the Clippers played their first game of the season without the star.
The basket scored more than just the first points of the game. With the score, James Harden surpassed Vince Carter and is now the 20th player with the most points in NBA history.
In addition to Kawhi and Paul George, no Clippers player scored more than 10 points in the match, adding to the other three starters and the five reserves who took the court against the Hawks.
The loss leaves the Los Angeles Clippers in an uncomfortable situation. With 42 wins and currently in 4th place in the Western Conference, the team will now have to keep an eye on the New Orleans Pelicans. The Louisiana team led by Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson is one victory away from equaling LA’s campaign.
The teams have already met for the last time in the regular season, but if the regular campaign were to end in this round, Pelicans x Clippers would take place in the first round of the playoffs.
When is the next NBA game for the Los Angeles Clippers?
Portland Trail-Blazers x Los Angeles Clippers – 03/20.
When is the Atlanta Hawks’s next game in the NBA?
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Atlanta Hawks – 03/18.
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