Kawhi Leonard leads Clippers to a dominant win | College News
The groups the Clippers are chasing for a top-six spot within the Western Conference standings keep profitable and meaning the Clippers have to proceed their pursuit of wins till the ultimate seedings are determined.
His staff understands “what’s at stake” and “what’s at risk,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned, and that has stored his group on high alert because it seeks to keep away from the NBA’s play-in event by incomes a top-six seed.
As it stands, even after the Clippers defeated the depleted New Orleans Pelicans 114-98 on Wednesday night time on the Inuit Dome, the Clippers stay a play-in staff.
The Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies all have an identical 44-32 data, all of them a half-game behind the fifth-seeded Golden State Warriors. If the season ended at this time, the Timberwolves would get the No. 6 seed, the Clippers the No. 7 seed and the Grizzlies the No. 8 seed primarily based on present tiebreakers.
With six regular-season video games left, Lue mentioned the Clippers need to play their best basketball, hunt for a top-six place and keep healthy.
“Health is important,” Lue mentioned. “But like you said, trying to get the top-six seed is very important as well, because you don’t want to go into the play-in game because in one or two games anything can happen. So that’s been our focus and our mindset and I give our guys credit. They’ve been doing a good job with that.”
The Clippers earned Wednesday’s win with a balanced assault, six gamers scoring in double figures. The staff obtained robust performances from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to paved the way.
Leonard was environment friendly, scoring 28 factors, capturing 11 for 18 from the sphere and three for 5 from three-point vary.
Harden had a double-double with 21 factors and 10 assists. After going one for 5 from three-point vary, Harden has made 404 three-pointers as a Clipper, pushing him previous Eric Gordon for sole possession of tenth place on the all-time record.
Ivica Zubac had 17 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 16 factors off the bench.
The Clippers gained for the ninth time in 10 video games but it surely wasn’t simple at occasions.
New Orleans simply shut down Zion Williamson (bone bruise in his back) and CJ McCollum (bone bruise in his proper foot), and different gamers missed the sport too. But the Pelicans didn’t simply roll over, forcing the Clippers to keep alert.
It took a three-pointer from Bogdanovic, an offensive rebound and put-back together with two free throws from Zubac, and a three pointer from Leonard for the Clippers to open a 20-point lead late within the fourth quarter.
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