Los Angeles Clippers use a balanced attack to beat Sacramento Kings 108-100 - NBA Recap
Los Angeles Clippers improved to 21-12 after they topped the Sacramento Kings, 108-100 on Thursday night. The Clippers were unstoppable with 6 players in double figures and a precise 100% shooting rate from the free throw line,
albeit they only had 8.
Chris Paul tallied a team high 22 points and 9 assists; Maurice Williams had 18 points with all four of his 3-pointers coming in the 4th quarter, while Randy Foye netted 16. Blake Griffin had a shaky night chipped in
with 14 points and 9 rebounds, Caron Butler scored 13 points as Clippers maintained their hold on the 3rd position in Western Conference.
DeMarcus Cousins netted a game high 23 points and 10 boards for Kings. Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton came up with 18 apiece and Jimmer Fredette recorded 11 points coming off the bench. Isaiah Thomas, who was recently nominated
as Western Conference rookie of the month, scored 10 points in Sacramento’s 23rd defeat of season.
The game was a well contested affair and it swayed back and forth till the last quarter, with 7 ties and 9 hand changes.
The opening frame remained highly contested as midway, the Kings were leading with 17-12, however a jumper from Williams intrigued a 14-2 run placing Clippers in the lead at 26-19. Kings struck back though and pulled within 25-28
after the first 12 minutes.
The Clips reeled off another 12-5 run and claimed a double digit 40-30 lead early in the 2nd quarter. But, Sacramento responded with an 11-2 spurt and brought the scores close at 42-41 with 5:51 in hand. What followed
were three consecutive three’s followed by a layup from Kings, who carved out a 52-44 lead deep.
The Clippers clawed off the deficit with an 8-0 run and tied the score at 52 each and the stale mate prevailed till the end of the half, which ended with the scores tied at 57.
Clippers created breathing space with a 10-4 run early in the 3rd stanza to take a 67-61 advantage and went on to augment it to 72-66 with 7:38 in hand. The Kings scored the next 6 points to tie the game, but in the
following passage, their offense completely shut down and Clippers regained their double digit lead 83-72 by pulling off an 11-0 spurt. They were leading by 85-79 when the third quarter ended.
With 5:42 left in the 4th period the scores were 99-86 with Los Angeles holding onto the lead. They left the hosts in their wake by reeling off a 9-3 run deep through the decisive frame and claimed a comfortable 108-89
advantage.
Kings came up with 11-0 run in the garbage time but by that time, it was already too late.
As the time expired, Sacramento dropped to 12-23 in the season. Their coach Keith Smart however seemed optimum about the future.
"They had a guy [Chris Paul] who could control the game, get the ball where it needs to go. We're still a team that's learning but we showed that we can compete, but we need have to better sustain it and take care of the basketball."
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