The Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers met for the first time this season for a highly anticipated “battle in Los Angeles” matchup, and the result was just as expected. A complete and healthy Clippers team with Kawhi Leonard back in action handled LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers fairly easily.
Norman Powell led the team with 22 points, but it was James Harden who shined with a 21-point 12-assist double-double and converted 7 of his 19 shots. Ivica Zubac also went for 21 points and grabbed 19 rebounds while Kawhi Leonard had a very efficient 19 points.
40-year-old LeBron finished the game with 25 points, 11 assists, and 5 rebounds while Anthony Davis did his thing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Even after a nice outing, it’s obvious that the purple and gold need to add backups to an aging LBJ.
The loss left Lakers fans feeling distraught after their team bows down to their LA rivals once again. After a brutal 116-102 defeat on Monday, the Lakers are now 3-13 against the Clips since 2020.
A Healthy Clippers is a Problem
The West is really pouring out with stacked teams trying to make it to the NBA Finals. One of those teams is a fully healthy Clippers with Kawhi Leonard. The 2-time Finals MVP is still a beast despite the numerous injuries he have suffered through the years.
Paul George’s departure turned out to be a better deal for the Clippers. Harden became an overall better fit, after he has evolved from a player who used to dish 60-point double-doubles in Houston to being a legitimate floor general in LA. It’s been going great for the franchise, especially now that Powell and Zubac are breaking out into stars.
