Kawhi Goes Slow But His LA Clippers Crush the Exhausted Toronto Raptors, 98-88

The LA Clippers won another game after coming back in the last period. This time it was against the reigning champions, Toronto Raptors, with the final result 98-88 in their favor. It was a clash between two sides who were showcasing the meaning of a phrase tough defense, especially in the last few minutes.

Between 5:32 and 1:42 until the end of the match, the spectators at Staples Center saw 6 points combined from both sides. Now, for a team with such an incredible offensive potential, that is pretty unusual. However, the Clippers were the ones who found their way out from that situation, pulling away and posting their fourth win, along with one loss over the recent five home matches.

It was also Kawhi’s first game against the Raptors.

“It’s just fun, just be able to compete against guys who you were with last year,” Leonard said. “It’s a little bit more competitive because you do talk to them.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zChA8uNYg4

Both teams played in waves, with each getting two periods. The Raptors were better in the first, leaving just 15 points to the hosts, and scoring 23. They would keep the same efficiency in the second, but allow 36 buckets, and the Clippers would head for the break with a 49-46 advantage.

The Raptors would strike back in the third, turning up the defense as time went by, and regaining the lead. It was like that until the start of the fourth, once the hosts got into their zone as usual. A 17-6 start turned the result upside down, and the game became very intense with defenses leading the way. In such circumstances, the Clippers were better, as they had more players capable of scoring with the game on the line.

Kawhi was slower than usual, but was just one assist short of reaching the triple-double. The reigning NBA Finals MVP scored 12 points, but shooting 2 for 11 from the field, and getting the majority of his points from the free-throw line where he missed just one of his 9 attempts. Besides that. The Claw added 11 boards and 9 assists. But his teammates were there to help, and use the constant pressure and attention he attracted.

“We just had to make them pay for just trapping him everywhere he was on the floor, and I thought we did a good job of that,” the best player of the game, Lou Williams explained.

Sweet Lou had a game-high 21 buckets, with 4 rebounds and dimes each.He was there to step up in the decisive moments, and score each time the hosts needed some bucekts. Montrezl Harrell added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while JaMychal Greed had 10 and 12 boards. Patrick Beverly added 12 rebounds.

“I though tonight was a great defensive game for us,” said Williams following the game.

Lou Williams (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) discusses tonight's 98-88 win 🏀#ClipperNation • @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/5oepnBV0ym

— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) November 12, 2019

On the other side, Siakam to had double-digit figures in two categories -16 points, 10 rebounds. Norman Powell scored 15 buckets, Fred VanVleet 14, and 8 assists. Chris Boucher contributed with 13 off the bench. The Raptors played with just 9 players and having on ming that they faced the Lakers on the previous night, this was a heroic effort by Nick Nurse’s guys.

The rebounds were a key problem for the champs who allowed 20 offensive boards to the Clippers and were heavily beaten in that aspect of the game, 66-38.

Up next, Toronto (7-3) has two more games on this road trip, against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, and Mavericks on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Clippers (7-3) head for Houston to have a big clash against the Rockets, and continue down to Louisiana, where they meet the young Pelicans on Thursday. That would be a second of back-to-back nights for them.