The Lakers beat the Clippers 125-117 on Friday at crypto.com Arena. Second win in two games. I read the scoresheet on Saturday morning, with my folder on the kitchen table and the four-colour pen next to it. I always read the sheet before the report. The report has an opinion. The sheet doesn’t.
Luka Doncic: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 8 of 21 from the field, 2 of 8 from three. And 11 turnovers. His previous maximum was nine, reached six times. Six times nine, then once eleven. Noted.
At the other end, the Clippers lost 25 over the game. Twenty-five. At our place, a scoresheet in the second provincial division (Belgium’s Saturday-night amateur leagues) has no box for that, so it goes in the margin, and the margin is small. The Lakers turned them into fast-break points. That’s on the sheet too.
The rest reads quickly. Austin Reaves, 28 points on 10 of 13 and 9 assists. Walker Kessler, 22 points, 8 rebounds, six blocks, three steals, and more than twenty points two games in a row for the first time in five NBA seasons. Darius Garland, 26 points for the Clippers. Rui Hachimura, 16. Half-time: sixty-four all. Then 39 points for the Lakers in the third quarter.
After the game, Doncic said, according to Eurohoops: “Obviously, my game was terrible.” He also said “Unbelievable, honestly,” according to Basketnews. I don’t comment. A player who fills in the remarks column himself, I don’t see that often. Usually it’s me who fills it in.
Eleven turnovers, at our place, means they’re behind the retractable stands, mind you. You find them again in May.
Next game Sunday, at Utah. Turnovers: 11, career worst, signed at the table.
It’s true, we checked: Basket USA.
