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LOS ANGELES – After the Los Angeles Lakers earned their championship rings, the Los Angeles Clippers gave a performance that showed this renewed team is determined to compete for its own jewels several months from now.
Paul George scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half, Kawhi Leonard added 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Los Angeles Lakers on the night of the NBA champions’ ring ceremony for a 116-109 victory on Tuesday ( Wednesday Manila time).
George was 13-of-18 with five 3s in an outstanding first game since agreeing to add four years and $ 190 million to his contract with the Clippers, who never lost in the last meeting of the two NBA powerhouses of Southern California. The Clippers beat the Lakers in the season opener for the second year in a row and won the debut of coach Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers stayed in their locker room while the Lakers received their rings, but they emerged with purpose and determined play, from their two superstars in particular.
“Our focus was on us,” Lue said. “The Lakers deserved that ring. They had a great year and you can’t take anything away from them. Our focus wasn’t really on the Lakers. They were the best team last year, so congratulations again, but now we move on. “
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LeBron James scored 22 points and Anthony Davis 18 for the Lakers just 72 days after they wiped out the Miami Heat in the NBA bubble.
The Lakers returned from the shortest offseason in league history and celebrated the 17th franchise title, but couldn’t keep up with George and Leonard down the stretch. Lakers coach Frank Vogel also limited James to 28 minutes and Davis to 31, anticipating the long grind his veterans have after a 10-week offseason.
“It’s not ideal, but I feel like you need to manage those guys’ minutes in the right way,” Vogel said. “Getting through this healthy stretch is a priority, and assessing how our new guys fit in is a priority when we haven’t had a normal amount of time to do that. The five guys on the court have to be better than they were tonight. “
Serge Ibaka scored 15 points on his debut for the Clippers, who have not played since ruining a 3-1 playoff series lead against Denver and ruining a long-awaited final conference showdown with the Lakers waiting in the bubble.
The collapse led to the departure of coach Doc Rivers, and Lue moved to the bench to take over a star-studded team with several new additions.
The Lakers trailed by 22 points under a ring hangover in the first quarter, but erased all but two points of the deficit in the second. The Clippers pulled away late in the third with George burning a series of defenders one-on-one. He scored 11 more points in the quarter to seal it.
“We are not thinking about last year,” Leonard said. “It is a different team. I am happy that I continued to play basketball the right way. Even if we lost the lead, we turned around and kept playing our basketball. We executed our offense, and that is what we are proud of tonight. They all supported each other and stayed positive. “
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TIPS
Clippers: Nicolas Batum and Ibaka left for their new club. … Former Lakers Lou Williams and Ivica Zubac each scored 11 points.
Lakers: Dennis Schröder and fellow rookie Marc Gasol were in Vogel’s starting lineup. Gasol scored no points and five fouls in 12 minutes. … Wesley Matthews was also scoreless in his Lakers debut. … Kyle Kuzma had 15 points after agreeing to a three-year, $ 40 million contract extension on Sunday.
DEBUTS
Batum had three points and six assists in 28 minutes in his Clippers debut, while new $ 64 million forward Luke Kennard had four points in 21 minutes from the bench.
Montrezl Harrell had 17 points and 10 rebounds in a strong debut after going down the aisle from the Clippers to the Lakers last month. Schröder was also impressive in his debut with the Lakers, with 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
“Those guys are going to be great players for us,” Vogel said.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Clippers: Visit Denver on Friday.
Lakers: Host Dallas on Friday.
