Westbrook debuts with the Clippers in a festival of points

And after the complaints about the poor defense in the All-Star comes this. The Crypto Arena in Los Angeles enjoyed an even game -that’s true- between two teams that are going to fight in the upper part of the Western Conference (also) where an overwhelming offensive flow was seen (also). But of course, the defenses were left in the locker room. A game not suitable for followers of the bolt. Weakside assists, block-and-continuation follow-up, or box and one, there was little of that here, quickly fade from minds. The Clippers and the Kings starred in the second game with the most points in NBA history, supported by their two overtimes. They surpassed the 337 mark of a 1982 Spurs-Bucks and left it at 351, still far from the total record of that 1983 Pistons-Nuggets that will continue at the top with 370.

The result was 175-176 in favor of kingsin which it was his second engagement of back to back after beating the Blazers the night before. A most captivating entry into the decisive phase of the season. They were the ones who constantly overcame the duel, the ones who did not leave, the ones who clung the most and those who ended up taking it home. In regulation time they lost by 14 with four minutes to go and in each of the two overtimes they let go by 6 down. A fantastic mental work by Mike Brown’s team, who is understood to have a crush on the purple parish after so many years of trouble.

Judging by what has been seen, it is not a game that can be judged in terms of complete competitiveness, with all the attributes that a clash between two leading teams in the NBA must have and which are assumed to want to defend something, but it does speak wonders of the Kings pride to win it in the scoring maelstrom they got into with the Clippers. The Angelenos 26 triples in 45 attempts, the best mark in their history, and not even with that was worth it. And all this in Russell Westbrook’s debut game with that shirt after the change of sides in the city and his zero time with the Jazz, a madness made for him: 17 points, 14 assists and yes, also seven losses. Monk (45) was the king of the night with the invaluable help of Leonard (44), Fox (42), George (34) and fifteen other players who signed up to put the ball in the basket.

“It must be the highest level of basketball played that I have ever been a part of. Of the two teams. Success, execution… Everything”was quick to point out Kevin Huerter, shooting guard for the kings, after finishing. On the other side, Tyronn Lue, coach of the Clipperswas more reflective in defeat. “It has been an experience to learn”said the local coach, emphasizing the two parts of the field and what the arrival of Westbrook means that he must adapt his rotation to the characteristics of this player.

It is also true that you have to give your portion of merit to the good work of the players in attack, not everything will be a criticism of the lack of defense. The result was a conjunction of everything, not like the All-Star in Salt Lake City. The best options were sought in the offensive plays, there was a positive night in punctate shots for those who threw and all of this created a mass of points from which it was difficult to escape. And almost better, the spectators will think, if we compare it with a 60-60. This is for taste. In the last period, already with a fairly large score, the first point of tension with which the Kings knew how to play was seen: they lost a 15-2 run with only four minutes to go. Fox and Sabonis charged with that first comeback and, with three up on the last play, the Clippers let Fox pass into the area to score two, but the point guard found a Malik Monk on fire and the expected three-pointer reached 1 .1 seconds from the honk. Leonard failed to answer. 153-153. In the first overtime the score was stretched again by the local side and the Kings arrived again, here with the most nerves on the surface, to tie. After a minute without anyone scoring Malik Monk, earning himself the top scorer of the night, he made two free throws to equalize. George failed to answer. 164-164. They passed the baton to Westbrook in the second overtime and he responded with a layup, a steal and two assists, leaving the Clips on the winning side with just under two minutes to go, but this time the purples’ standup was going to be the final A frontal triple from Monk first and a double action from Fox later, going from the steal to the midrange shot, put the final advantage that neither Kawhi nor Batum later annulled. A clash of excesses that was well worth the entry.