Lakers once again come up short against Clippers
LeBron sits out and watches team falter down the stretch
Recap of Clippers/Lakers game played on January 23, 2024
1st Quarter
The last time the Lakers and Clippers met almost three weeks ago the Lakers were sitting on top of the Western Conference and the Clippers were shaking off a very rocky start. As it stands today the Clippers are on top in the division and the Lakers have lost four of their last seven games. Tonight, the Lakers had to make due without LeBron James who missed his fifth game of the season. Both teams got off to a good start, trading baskets early on. The Clippers used a 15-6 run to lead by eight at one point in the quarter, 26-18 when Amir Coffey knocked down a three-pointer. Russell Westbook's three-pointer at the end of the quarter quickly gave the Clippers their biggest lead at nine, 31-22, but the Lakers ended the quarter with a basket by Christian Wood, making the score 31-24.
2nd Quarter
The Lakers stayed within striking distance of the Clippers during the second quarter. D'Angelo Russell hit a three-pointer early in the quarter that cut the Clippers lead down to three, 35-32, but the Clippers went on a 15-5 run, pushing their lead to thirteen, 50-37. The Lakers got it down to ten by halftime, 62-52.
3rd Quarter
The Clippers opened the game in the third quarter. They started the quarter on an 18-3 run to extend the lead to twenty-five, 80-55. Paul George's three-pointer late in the quarter gave the Clippers their biggest lead of the game, twenty-seven points, 89-62. The Lakers would finish out the quarter on a 12-3 run to cut the Clippers lead down to nineteen, 93-74 going into the fourth quarter.
4th Quarter
If there was ever a time for the Clippers not to have a complete team meltdown, it was in the fourth quarter of tonight's game. Holding a nineteen-point lead and no LeBron James opposite you there's nothing standing in your way of getting a win in the next twelve minutes. Amir Coffey hit a jumpshot that gave the Clippers a twenty-one point lead, 97-76 with just over ten minutes in the game. Then the Lakers started hitting shots. Christian Wood knocked down a three-pointer, making it 97-81. Next possession, Taurean Prince hit a three-pointer, making it a 98-84 score. Next offensive possession Rui Hachimura buried a three-pointer and the Lakers were only down eleven, 98-87. Paul George knocked down a jumper to push the Clippers lead back to thirteen, 100-87, but the Lakers ran off eight straight points, capped off with a vicious dunk by D'Angelo Russell, bringing the Lakers to within five, 100-95. The Lakers however could not sustain that momentum and come away being defeated 107-100.
 |
@ |  |
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Los Angeles Lakers |
24 |
28 |
21 |
26 |
100 |
| LA Clippers |
31 |
31 |
31 |
14 |
107 |
Los Angeles Lakers Player Stats
Anthony Davis - 20 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks
Taurean Prince - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Rui Hachimura - 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block
D'Angelo Russell - 16 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
Christian Wood - 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
LA Clippers Player Stats
James Harden - 19 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Norman Powell - 19 points, 2 assists, 2 steals
Paul George - 16 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Miles Plumlee - 13 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Kawhi Leonard - 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
Russell Westbrook - 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Upcoming Schedule
1/25/24: vs. Chicago Bulls
1/27/24: @ Golden State Warriors
1/29/24: @ Houston Rockets
1/30/24: @ Atlanta Hawks
2/1/24: @ Boston Celtics
2/3/24: @ New York Knicks
2/5/24: @ Charlotte Hornets
D'Lo drills the jumper
AD throwing it down all on Paul George
Rui Hachimura slicing through the defense
AD not allowing anything to get past him
