Russell Westbrook debuted for the Los Angeles Clippers Friday evening, and his first sport will undoubtedly be remembered.
Westbrook had 17 factors and 14 assists in 39 minutes however fouled out within the second additional time because the Sacramento Kings defeated the Clippers 176-175 within the second-highest-scoring sport in NBA historical past.
Russell Westbrook, #0 of the LA Clippers, appears to be like on through the sport in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on February 24, 2023, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. ( Adam Pantozzi/NBAE through Getty Images)
It was solely the second time in league historical past that each groups scored at the least 170 factors.
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The highest-scoring sport stays the 1983 matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets when Detroit gained 186-184 in three overtimes.
“I believed was an incredible sport. A variety of momentum shifts,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated.
The Clippers held a 175-169 lead with slightly below two minutes to play within the second additional time, however Sacramento scored the ultimate seven factors together with De’Aaron Fox’s jumper with 36.1 seconds remaining to present the Kings the lead.
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De’Aaron Fox, #5 of the Sacramento Kings, dribbles the ball through the sport in opposition to the LA Clippers on February 24, 2023, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE through Getty Images)
Fox completed the evening with 42 factors, 12 assists, and 5 steals, taking part in 45 minutes within the win.
“We simply needed to grind this sport out. We have been on the second evening of a back-to-back however it’s what it’s. We have a youthful staff than them,” Fox stated.
Malik Monk had 45 factors off the bench, making it the primary time two Kings gamers have scored at the least 40 factors in a sport in franchise historical past.
“We simply caught with it. We obtained down 12 at one level however simply had our heads up. We knew they have been going to allow us to again in,” Monk stated.
For the Clippers, Westbrook’s debut got here a number of days after LA signed the nine-time All-Star after being waived by the Utah Jazz earlier within the week.
“It’s about what I imagined,” Clippers star Paul George stated, based on ESPN. “The purpose why I used to be excessive on Russ being part of this staff was due to what he brings, and also you noticed the flashes of it tonight.”
Malik Monk, #0 of the Sacramento Kings, celebrates after the sport in opposition to the LA Clippers on February 24, 2023, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE through Getty Images)
George, who scored 34 factors Friday evening, was teammates with Westbrook in Oklahoma City in 2018-19.
“We wanted some extent guard,” George stated. “We wanted any person that you just noticed tonight, any person to get us in offense, any person to get us simple baskets and a flooring basic. That was only a necessity that we wanted.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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