There’s no comfort for these Clippers

0-5. This is how the Clippers will stand in the next game. 0-5 since signing Russell Westbrook, ousted by the Lakers and welcomed for convenience in some Jazz who did not want him. He came free as a personal recommendation from Paul George, with whom he met in OKC, and confirmed himself as the big name in the buyout market. The Angelenos don’t know what it’s like to win since they played with him on the roster. And they’ve missed major division and conference games. This back to back Against Warriors and Kings it has hurt perhaps more because of all the conditions that have surrounded it. Against those of Mike Brown, a stinging result: 128-127 and with a certain feeling of polemic in the end. “There are no moral victories here”, said an angry PG at the press conference, and he is right. Now they are eighth, with the win-loss record tied at 33, and they see the precipice close. Without Kawhi Leonard, reserved, and also without Morris and Zubac, a better version of the team was seen, but it is a small consolation compared to having added another loss to the locker and against a rival that is presumed direct in the conference.

Let’s remember that the precedent for this match was the second highest score in the history of this competition. The series, in addition, will be taken by the Kings. The Clippers, who for four years have aspired to something more than what they have achieved so far, have only won one of the four games. A point of interest in case they cross paths when the playoffs arrive.

The Kings were not happy with the management of the game. Yes, obviously, with the result. The Clips did more with less, and yet they didn’t win. They are the ironies of the NBA. One also came to Westbrook served by his desire to please. Russ, in a good individual performance (27 points and 10 assists, with 12/16 shooting from the field), fumbled a ball in the final seconds, a typical play in which the receiver of the pass is already thinking about the movement that is going to do after even capturing the ball, and he stayed, as they say in some places in Spain, with a face of ajoporro. Justice was not done to what was seen throughout the night. George said it: a version similar to that of the best days of him was seen. It was not enough. The end of the evening seemed in relative control of the visitors, a point above when that key loss of their base occurred. A foul on Domantas Sabonis (23 + 10 + 7) on the next play when he was trying to rebound on offense put the score as it finally was. Paul George (28 + 7 + 8) had the last option and that’s where the criticism came: his three-point shot did not go in and the shooting guard-forward begged the referees to whistle an alleged foul by Fox by touching his shooting arm.

We must stress again that both Westbrook and George did their best to help their Clippers win. Far from ridiculous. Far from negativities. But the result was the same, a defeat that in qualifying terms still does not pose a serious danger despite the tightness of the West, but that does further undermine the morale of the members of that team.