The LA Clippers will have something to stew about over Christmas after a brutal 119-114 loss to the surging Philadelphia Sixers.
Summary
The game started out as well as the Clippers could have hoped for, as they used a suffocating defense and sharp offense on the road to silence the Sixers as they built up a 20 point lead, 58-38 in the third quarter. Everything was clicking and the team looked like they had carried over the momentum from the big win against the Charlotte Hornets.
But the end of the second quarter should have been a sign for things to come. Whether the Clippers just got too comfortable and stopped doing the things that got them the lead or the Sixers decided to wake up, the Clippers did not go into halftime on such a great note. They allowed the Sixers to end the quarter on a 13-5 run to slice the lead almost in half to 63-51.
The Clippers did start the third quarter fairly well and maintained their double-digit lead, but it all fell apart towards the end of the quarter. The Sixers used an 8-0 run to pull within 74-69 and by the end of the third quarter, the game was tied.
The Sixers used a 12-4 run to surge past the Clippers, 97-89 in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers battled back behind a strong effort from Kawhi Leonard. After falling behind, 107-105, Nicolas Batum knocked down a key three-point shot in the corner to give the Clippers a 108-107 lead. That was the last time the Clippers would be up, however.
The Sixers closed the game on a 12-6 run, including eight straight points, to effectively close the door on the Clippers hopes for a win.
Notes
Despite the loss, Kawhi Leonard continues to find his rhythm and is beginning to resemble more and more the five-time All-Star that he is. His movement is coming back, especially his ability to turn the corner on offense, and against the Sixers he finished with 28 points on 63.2 percent shooting. A few games earlier against the Washington Wizards, he had 31 points on 46.2 percent shooting. The loss may sting considering the fact that the Clippers were up big, but a healthy Leonard in game shape is what the big picture is all about.
