The Los Angeles Clippers noticed their spectacular seven wins in eight video games run come to a halt with a disappointing 123-111 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night time, dropping their report to 13-23 whereas the Knicks improved to 24-13 and snapped their very own four-game shedding streak.
James Harden returned from a one-game absence as a consequence of a sore proper shoulder and contributed 23 factors and 9 assists, however Los Angeles could not maintain their sturdy first-half efficiency, getting outscored 33-24 within the decisive fourth quarter as their offense stalled when it mattered most at The Garden.
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Kawhi Leonard seemed like his dominant self early, pouring in 21 factors within the first half to assist Los Angeles construct a 56-51 halftime lead, however the star ahead went fully chilly after the break, including simply 4 extra factors and going scoreless within the essential fourth quarter when his group desperately wanted offensive manufacturing.
Leonard completed with 25 factors on 10-of-20 capturing however his lack of ability to attain late allowed New York to key their protection on different gamers.
“I thought defensively we did some really good things, and Brunson really took over the game down the stretch,” mentioned Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue after the loss.
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“Kawhi, I think offensively, had a really good first half, but in the second half, they said they were not going to let him play, they blitzed his pick-and-rolls and were packing the paint, and we just couldn’t make shots in that second half.”
After controlling a lot of the first half and sustaining their defensive depth via three quarters, the Clippers watched helplessly as Jalen Brunson torched them for 26 factors on 9-of-12 capturing, together with 4-of-5 from three-point vary, whereas Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the fourth quarter with 10 of his 20 factors within the last body.
Los Angeles suffered via a devastating 24-7 Knicks run that began late within the third quarter and prolonged into the fourth, watching an 87-83 lead remodel right into a 105-92 deficit that primarily ended any hopes of a comeback.
Ivica Zubac supplied one of many few brilliant spots with 22 factors on an environment friendly 11-of-14 capturing and 11 rebounds, however the Clippers’ position gamers could not present sufficient help when the celebrities struggled.
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The loss is especially irritating for Los Angeles given their current surge, having received seven of their earlier eight video games to climb inside putting distance of the Western Conference play-in positions, and now they will have to regroup shortly as they proceed their tough highway journey whereas attempting to salvage what’s been a disappointing season.