A Contest In Name Only; Lakers Slaughter Clippers 117-79

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap, NBA Regular Season Opener

The event that took place Wednesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles was not a basketball game. It was an assault and battery, a car wreck, the second coming of “Three Mile Island“! The Los Angeles Lakers totally disrespected their building mates the Clippers, and the Clips could do nothing about it. Hence the final score Lakers 117 Clippers 79 in a game that was really over after the first quarter. The Lakers shot 51.3 % (41-80) from the floor, and 52.6 % (10-19) from outside the arc. They had seven players in double figures.

Both teams played well in the first quarter as the Lakers had a slim 30-27 lead at the end of the period. But the competition ended after that, as the Clippers only managed to score 17 points, and went into the locker room trailing at the half 59-44. Things only got worse for Los Angeles’ other team in the third as the Lakers pulled ahead 85-57 going into the fourth. The Clippers were never a threat in the final period.

The Lakers played a true team game Wednesday night, with no one player spectacular, but a lot of good performances. Kobe Bryant led the team with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, Derek Fisher scored 15, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal. Jordan Farmar came off the bench and scored 15, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, Pau Gasol scored 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists. Andrew Bynum looked fit in his return from last season’s surgery as he scored 12 points, grabbed 9 boards, 3 blocks, 1 steal, Trevor Ariza scored 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist. Veteran big man Chris Mihm came off the bench and scored 10 points, 2 rebounds.

The new look Clippers, were led by Al Thornton with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Tim Thomas scored 11 points, and had 8 rebounds. Baron Davis scored 11 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds, Cuttino Mobley also scored 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block. The Lakers are now 2-0, the Clippers are 0-1.

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