It started like every other Laker game this season. Kobe Bryant was fighting, but the Lakers were overwhelmed. Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul were clicking and, despite a ferocious dunk from Kobe Bryant, the Clippers pushed the lead to 15 points in the first quarter and it seemed like the same old song and dance.
Then everything changed.
The Lakers fought and clawed in the second quarter, pulling within three points late in the quarter and reinvigorating the Staples Center. The 34-point second frame kept the purple and gold (or black and gold, on this night) within six heading into the locker room.
Rip City Project
However, it was the 18-5 run the Lakers went on to start the third quarter that shocked everyone. It wasn’t short lived, either, with the Lakers holding on to that lead throughout the remainder of the third and into the final frame. Jordan Hill was the star of the second half, hitting an array of mid-range jumpers and showing a facet of his game that he had worked so diligently on this summer en route to a team-high 23 points on 10-15 shooting.
Unsurprisingly, the Clippers came roaring back in the fourth, but the Lakers did everything they could to hold them off. A pair of Blake Griffin free throws tied the game at 103 and contributed to his game high 39 points on the night. Jeremy Lin answered with a desperation three-pointer as he fell out of bounds, putting the Lakers back up 106-103.
Only when Jamal Crawford, who hit many big shots on the night, hit a free throw with exactly 4:00 remaining did the Clippers regain the lead at 107-106. The Lakers weren’t done, Wayne Ellington hitting a three with 2:03 to go to tie the game back up at 109. A desperation three from Crawford on the ensuing possession did big damage to the Lakers momentum despite the ensuing Bryant baseline jumper over Chris Paul.
After a Bryant miss and two more freebies from Blake Griffin, the Lakers had a chance to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining. Coming out of a timeout, Bryant caught the ball at the top of the key, drove right and pulled up for a good look from three, but fatigue had caught up with the Black Mamba, who pushed the shot long and all but sealed the Lakers’ fate.
Aside from Hill’s 23 points, Bryant followed him with 21 points with 7 assists and 4 rebounds and Lin put up his best effort with the Lakers, finishing with 17 points and 9 assists. Ed Davis was the only other Laker in double figures, scoring 10 points in 20 minutes of action.
The Lakers will have no rest for the weary as they travel to Golden State for the Warriors’ home opener.