LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook acquired a rousing ovation when he began and completed his LA Clippers debut.
Westbrook had as spectacular a begin as any level guard taking part in in his first recreation with the franchise. However the Clippers and Sacramento Kings weren’t achieved taking part in when Westbrook picked up his sixth private foul within the second additional time.
The groups engaged in a wide ranging duel that ended because the second-highest scoring recreation in NBA historical past, with Sacramento repeatedly coming from behind earlier than outlasting the Clippers 176-175 in two overtimes.
Not solely was the sellout crowd of 19,068 at Crypto.com Area in awe, however a number of members of the Clippers stated that they had by no means seen something like the sport they only performed in.
“It is loopy,” stated Westbrook, who began and had 17 factors, 14 assists and 7 turnovers in 39 minutes earlier than fouling out with 1:49 remaining within the second additional time. “I do not know if I’ve ever been part of a recreation with that many factors. Contemporary off the All-Star break, I assume.”
It was a recreation that featured back-and-forth scoring like an All-Star Recreation however one which was intensely aggressive.
The Kings and Clippers scored the third- and fourth-most factors in a recreation in NBA historical past, respectively, trailing solely the Detroit Pistons’ and Denver Nuggets 186-184 triple-overtime recreation on Dec. 13, 1983 as most factors scored.
Each groups shot 58.6% or higher from the sector and mixed to hit 44 3-pointers. Kawhi Leonard performed his greatest recreation since tearing his proper ACL in Recreation 4 of the second spherical in opposition to Utah on June, 14, 2021. He was dominant on each ends of the ground, ending with 44 factors on 16-of-22 taking pictures to go along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, three steals and two blocks in 46 minutes — essentially the most minutes he has ever performed in a regular-season recreation.
But it surely wasn’t sufficient to beat the Kings’ duo of De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. With Domantas Sabonis in foul hassle, Fox had 42 factors and 12 assists whereas Monk scored 45 factors and 6 assists off the bench. Fox and Monk are the primary pair of teammates to every report 40 factors and 5 assists in the identical recreation since Westbrook and Paul George did it with Oklahoma Metropolis on Feb. 22, 2019, in line with ESPN Stats & Data analysis.
The Clippers led 145-131 with 4:25 remaining in regulation, however they turned the ball over 4 straight instances to gas a 22-8 Sacramento run. Monk buried a 3 with 2.1 seconds left to power additional time.
The Clippers led by six in additional time and by six once more within the second additional time however couldn’t maintain onto their lead. The Kings scored the ultimate seven factors to erase a 175-169 deficit within the ultimate 1:46. The Clippers completed with 25 turnovers, which led to 42 Kings factors.
The ending spoiled what in any other case was a terrific begin to Westbrook’s Clippers profession. After a tumultuous season and a half with the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook was traded to Utah, which purchased him out of his contract.
George and different gamers on the Clippers lobbied for LA to signal Westbrook. On Friday night time, he delivered. Westbrook pushed the tempo, was aggressive attacking the rim whereas not settling for 3-point pictures, and arrange teammates for scores. Westbrook’s 14 assists are tied for essentially the most in a group debut in Clippers franchise historical past, in line with ESPN Stats & Data.
And whereas he did lead the group in turnovers with seven, Westbrook performed with the kind of management that Clippers coach Ty Lue wished to see in simply his first recreation along with his new group after solely two practices.
Westbrook made well timed scores within the overtimes, drilling his solely 3-pointer from the correct nook with 3:32 left within the first additional time and scoring on a drive to the rim with 4:21 left within the second additional time. He additionally assisted Leonard and Mason Plumlee on two consecutive baskets with underneath three minutes left within the second additional time.
“It is about what I imagined,” stated George, who loved his greatest season whereas taking part in with Westbrook in Oklahoma Metropolis in 2018-19. “The explanation why I used to be excessive on Russ being part of this group was due to what he brings, and also you noticed the flashes of it tonight.”
George, Leonard and Lue helped persuade Clippers administration to signal Westbrook, and his debut noticed the group set a franchise report in factors and season highs in assists (39) and made 3-pointers (26).
“We would have liked some extent guard,” George stated. “We would have liked any individual that you simply noticed tonight, any individual to get us in offense, any individual to get us simple baskets and a ground common. That was only a necessity that we would have liked.”
Westbrook performed a very good quantity with out the ball in his palms, ready to assault when he received the ball or setting screens as properly.
“Simply looking for methods to be efficient whereas I am on the ground,” Westbrook stated. “And no matter is requested of me, screening, no matter, rolling, dealing with, no matter that could be. Slicing. Simply attempt to do various things to affect the sport and utilizing my IQ to have the ability to make performs for others.”
Westbrook stated he’ll watch movie of the high-octane recreation to see how he can play higher alongside Leonard and George and enhance upon a powerful debut.
It was an evening wherein the Clippers’ crowd embraced Westbrook from the second he got here out for warmups to when he fouled out within the second additional time.
“Simply the flexibility to have the ability to exit and compete,” Westbrook stated of what he’ll bear in mind from his debut. “I believe that is one thing I do not take as a right, being someplace [and] given a chance to go play. Not simply that, however the assist of the group, my teammates, the followers, total, it is an excellent debut however simply did not get the win.
“And that is the unhappy half about it, however taking that out of it, simply with the ability to exit and compete, the assist system round this was at an all-time excessive. So I am very appreciative of that.”