« We are witnessing a collapse here… “. Disillusioned like most of the 13,000 spectators of the Capital One Arena, Justin Kutcher, the Washington match commentator, does not believe his eyes. A time led by 35 points (31-66, 23rd), the Los Angeles Clippers are on their way to an incredible comeback outside.
A fantastic comeback validated a few seconds from the buzzer by two consecutive award-winning shots from Luke Kennard, the second with the fault (116-115, final score). The second biggest comeback in NBA history in the play-by-play era (every action in the game is recorded, not just the stat sheet), launched in 1996-97. Only Utah had done better: a 36-point deficit erased in 1996.
Kennard’s composure
In the locker room, Bradley Beal was still groggy. ” Honestly, what do we want to do? What team do we want to be? That’s the question I ask all of us », dropped the Wizards star. His two free throws before halftime had brought the gap to 35 points (66-31, 23rd), a more than comfortable mattress.
Still without Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers were in a day without, like Ivica Zubac, Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum (6 cumulative points). But next to the leader Amir Coffey (29 points, career record), the Californian bench took over. Los Angeles then began to tear apart the increasingly less serious Wizards defense. With a basket plus the fault, Jay Scrubb brought Tyronn Lue’s players to eight points (86-94, 40th).
« We continued to close the gap. When we fell below ten points, I said to myself “OK, we have a chance, we have an opportunity if we can make stops,” said the Clippers coach. However, his players were again left behind after an award-winning shot from Beal, then a dunk from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: six points behind, and ten seconds to go.
A mission accepted by Luke Kennard. The winger fired in a long three-point shot. And the Wizards returned the ball, failing to put it back into play after five seconds. A gift for Kennard, author of a new award-winning shot off balance, with the fault of Bradley Beal, giving him the free throw of the victory. ” You never know when the game is over. You just have to play until the buzzer concluded Amir Coffey. The Clippers (9th) remain in ambush behind the Top 8 in the West.
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For the third time this season, the Clippers won a game after being led by at least 24 points (against Denver, Philadelphia and Washington). A first in NBA history.