Los Angeles Lakers use a late surge to top Los Angeles Clippers 96 – 91 – NBA Recap
The Los Angeles Lakers came out on top against the Los Angeles Clippers 96 – 91 after an engaging battle at the Staples Center. The game, dubbed the battle for Los Angeles, was fiercely contested throughout but the Lakers managed to edge out their opponents with some strong play in the decisive moments of the game.
The highly anticipated match saw the two power house teams in Los Angeles square off and had been billed as a battle between individual stars such as Blake Griffin and Chris Paul of the Clippers Vs Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol of the Lakers.
Griffin managed to impress even when on the losing end with a game high 26 points and 9 rebounds. Chris Paul, who has just returned from an injury, wasn’t as decisive on the scorecard but he pulled all the strings, as evidenced by his 12 assists.
Mo Williams provided impetus from the bench for the Clippers with 16 points. The same number was put up by forward Caron Butler while centre DeAndre Jordan managed 11.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 24 points, 6 assists and 7 boards in an enterprising effort. Pau Gasol also put in a star shift with a double-double at 23 points and 10 rebounds. Centre Andrew Bynum was among the points tonight with 19 while 11 were scored by point guard Derek Fisher.
The young and exciting Clippers were quicker out of the blocks, going up 13 – 4 early in the first quarter. They used a 6 – 0 spurt near the halfway mark to get their lead into double figures before Los Angeles Lakers mounted a comeback to draw level at 25 – 25. The quarter ended with the Clippers in the lead at 27 – 25.
The second period was evenly matched as both sides answered each other on almost every possession. The teams went into halftime as they with the game finely poised at 51 – 49 to the Clippers.
It was more of the same after the interval as neither team could get a definitive advantage in the third quarter. Therefore the match was up for the taking in the final segment, and the Los Angeles Lakers stepped up.
The Lakers used their greater experience to somewhat control the flow in the penultimate period and produced solid defence to hamper the Clippers. Their 28 points in the quarter therefore proved enough to secure the game at 96 – 91.
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