By Darnell Sallins
Crypto.com Arena was treated to a historic game last night in Los Angeles. The Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers played the second-highest scoring game in NBA history that ended in double overtime. It was Russell Westbrook's Clipper debut as he started for his new team. Westbrook was impressive in his debut with 17 points, 14 assists, and 5 rebounds in 39 minutes of action, but fouled out in the second overtime session. 351 combined points, 2nd most in NBA behind the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets' game back in 1983. That game ended with the 186-184 Pistons wins in triple overtime. There were 3 40-point performances and 5 double-doubles in last night's game.
However, just like in baseball, the Clippers struck out closing out the Kings at the end of regulation and in both overtimes.
First strikeout was when the Clipper was leading by 14 points with 4:25 left in regulation at 145-131. The Kings would go on a 22-8 run to tie the game at the end of regulation on a Malik Monk 3 with 2.1 seconds left The Clippers had straight possessions where they turned the ball over that fueled the Kings' run.
Second strikeout comes in the first overtime, when the Clippers led by 6 at 162-156 with 3:04 left. The Kings would then go on another run. Outscoring the Clipper 8-2 to send the game into double overtime off free-throw by Monk.
The third and final strikeout happens in double overtime as the Clippers were up by 6 once again. The score at this time was 175-169 and the Clippers wouldn't score again. The Kings go on a 7-0 run as De'Aaron Fox hits the game-winning jumper with 36.1 seconds left thus spoiling Westbrook's Clipper debut in front of Clippers Nation.
As mentioned earlier, there were three 40-point performances, two of which came from the Kings with Fox dropping 42 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds and Monk off the bench with 45 points. Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers had the third 40-point performance with 44 points in 46 minutes of play, the most he has played since tearing his ACL back in 2021.
Both teams shot 58% or better from the field last night, Kings 58.6% and Clippers 60.2%. The Kings shot 43.9% from 3 while the Clippers shot 57.8% from behind the arc. The problem for the Clippers was the 25 turnovers committed that turned into 42 points for the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings moves to 34-25 and remain 3rd in the West as the Clippers drop to 33-29, 5th in the West with 2 games ahead of Minnesota for a playoff spot and not a play-in spot with the Dallas Mavericks sitting at 6th, a half of a game behind the Clips.