After their disappointment against the Warriors, the Clippers are doing this time against the Bulls in the money time (130-127), thanks in particular to a big action at 3 points of Nicolas batum to put his definitely in mind. Zach LaVine had the overtime ball but totally missed the mark for what would have been his 11th 3-point win. The Clippers had started badly but made speak their experience in the last act against the Bulls who made too many mistakes. They now have a record of 7-4 against 4-7 at the Bulls.
We had a huge duel between Kawhi Leonard (35 points at 15/21 including 7/9 at 3-pts) and Zach LaVine (45 points at 15/25 including 10/15 at 3-pts, 7 rebounds and 7 assists) and especially in the 3rd quarter. The two teams also lit from afar with 20/38 for the Clippers and 18/33 for Chicago. Paul George adds 24 points at 8/19 including 5/8 at 3-pts, Lou Williams 21 points at 6/10 and Nico Batum 8 points at 2/3 at 3-pts, 3 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. Chicago side, who paid for his 21 lost balls despite 61.3% on shots including 56.3% at 3-pts, the rookie Patrick Williams comes out an excellent game with 17 points at 6/9 while Garrett Temple adds 16 points at 6/7 and Thaddeus Young 14 points at 6/7. Coby White is close to the triple-double with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 13 assists but a 4/11 record.
As often, the Clippers did not start this match well at 1 p.m., which was not the case with the Bulls, who under the impetus of the trio LaVine, Williams and Carter Jr. went 15-5 to take 10 points ahead, 20-10. Kawhi and Paul George woke up the Californians a bit with shots from behind the arc, but that was about it for Tyronn Lue’s players, not in their game. George’s award-winning last-second shoot kept the damage down, 31-22 after 12 minutes.
It was the second unit of the Clippers who put them in the game with a good start to the second quarter with a 10-0 to return to a possession. Chicago resisted well with 3 points from LaVine and Williams to push LA, and finally at the break the Bulls logically led 59-52.
The 3rd quarter was fireworks lit by Kawhi Leonard and Zach LaVine. The two strung the 3-point shots like pearls: 6 in 2’13, including 3 each! Leonard planted 5, for 21 points in the quarter and thus bring back the Clippers. In this offensive festival with a very big outside address, LA scored 42 points to pick up at 94-94 after 3 quarters.
The locals continued their momentum with award-winning shots from George, Morris and Lou Will to make a 109-103 mini-break with 8’52 remaining. Very little in such a match and in the blink of an eye, Young, LaVine and Valentine reduced this delay to 1 point. Despite lost balls and missed open 3-pts, the Bulls hung on with good defensive possessions and LaVine once again reduced his team’s delay to 1 point at 3’30 from the buzzer. On a 2 + 1 Temple propelled Chicago into the lead at the start of the last 3 minutes. Nicolas Batum then entered the scene with a big 2 + 1 (awarded 3-pts first, but he had his foot on the line) and in the process Lou Williams veiled the ball to Coby White to add 2 points of plus, 124-119 90 seconds from the end. Kawhi thought he had folded the deal but with a 2 + 1 and then a 3-point, LaVine brought Chicago back to 1 point. George was sent to the pitch line and got the 2 in and behind LaVine sent an airball, game over.
BATUM 3 + 1 in the money time ???????? pic.twitter.com/qyOlpAP2HW
— Basket-Infos (@Basket_Infos) January 10, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4JiDpRonf8
.
