Lakers unable to hit shots down the stretch, see six game winning streak end
Lakers shoot themselves out of game with rough fourth quarter
Recap of Clippers/Lakers game played on January 7, 2024
1st Quarter
Just a little over two months ago the Lakers and Clippers seemed to be going in opposite directions. The Clippers having just traded for James Harden lost to the Lakers 106-99, which began a six game losing streak, while the Lakers went on to win six of their next seven games, but as the co-tenants of Crypto.com Arena got together for their second meeting of the season they were only separated by three games. James Harden and Paul George got the Clippers going early as both knocked down early three-point shots giving the Clippers the early lead, leading by as many as ten points, after a Russell Westbrook layup, 24-14. The Lakers cut the Clippers lead in half as they ended the first quarter down, 28-23.
2nd Quarter
Both teams exchanged the lead during the second quarter as both teams held five-point leads at different times. Paul George hit back-to-back three-pointers turning a Lakers 42-39 lead into a Clippers lead of 45-42. The Lakers eventually retook the lead heading into halftime, 54-51.
3rd Quarter
In the third quarter, the Lakers stretched their lead out to eight points after Reddish, Davis and Reaves each scored on layups. The Clippers would not quit as Russell Westbrook knocked down a three-pointer and followed that up with a layup on the next offensive possession, giving the Clippers the lead for first time in the second half, 71-70. LeBron James hit a jumper for the Lakers, giving them a 72-71 lead, but the Clippers ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to take an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter, 80-72.
4th Quarter
Paul George opened the fourth quarter knocking down another three-pointer and giving the Clippers their biggest lead of the game, eleven points. There was a three minute stretch in the fourth quarter where both teams could not score, but it was a huge opportunity blown by the Lakers. In the last five minutes of the game, the Lakers missed six three-point shots and four out of five free throws. LeBron James was able to bring the Lakers to within three-points, 100-97, but on the next offensive possession Taurean Prince was whistled for an offensive foul. Kawhi Leonard's three-pointer put the Clippers up 103-98 and they would hold on for a 106-100 victory over the Lakers.
 |
@ |  |
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| LA Clippers |
28 |
23 |
29 |
26 |
106 |
| Los Angeles Lakers |
23 |
31 |
18 |
28 |
100 |
LA Clippers Player Stats
Paul George - 25 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Kawhi Leonard - 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Russell Westbrook - 17 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists
James Harden - 16 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal
Los Angeles Lakers Player Stats
LeBron James - 35 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Anthony Davis - 23 points, 23 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks
Christian Wood - 17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block
Upcoming Schedule
1/9/24: vs. Toronto Raptors
1/11/24: vs. Phoenix Suns
1/13/24: @ Utah Jazz
1/15/24: vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
1/17/24: vs. Dallas Mavericks
1/19/24: vs. Brooklyn Nets
Davis hammering it down with authority
Davis with the sweet fade away
Davis with the jumper
LeBron knocking down the three-point shot in the first quarter
