Starting Line-ups
Kings
- Luther Head
- Tyreke Evans
- Donté Greene
- Carl Landry
- Samuel Dalembert
Reserves: Beno Udrih, Antoine Wright, DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Omri Casspi, Darnell Jackson, Pooh Jeter.
Inactives: Hassan Whiteside, Francisco Garcia (illness).
Clippers
- Eric Bledsoe
- Eric Gordon
- Al-Farouq Aminu
- Blake Griffin
- DeAndre Jordan
Reserves: Randy Foye, Rasual Butler, Jaron Collins, Brian Cook, Ryan Gomes, Craig Smith, Willie Warren.
Inactives: Chris Kaman, Baron Davis.
First Quarter Recap
The game started with an attempted poster dunk by Blake Griffin over Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert picked up the foul, but the call should have gone the other way when Griffin clearly cleared out Dalembert with his off arm. The Kings responded on the other end with a Luther Head to Donté Greene ally-oop. The Kings got off to an early 13-6 lead at the eight minute mark, using a three by Greene and a quick eight by Carl Landry. The Clippers stormed back, taking the lead at 19-15 at the four minute mark of the quarter after an Aminu put-back stuff. The first was a series of runs. The Clippers led by five on the strong performance of their young starters.
Kings 25 Clippers 30
Leaders
Kings- Landry (9) Points; Landry (3) Rebounds; Head (5) Assists.
Clippers- Aminu (9) Points; Jordan/Griffin (4) Rebounds; Bledsoe (2) Assists.
Second Quarter Recap
The second quarter looked very similar to the first. Both Carl Landry and Blake Griffin continued to go at each other, leading their teams in most offensive categories going into the half. Omri Casspi came in and gave the Kings a nice lift off the bench with eight points and four rebounds, but he was one of the few bright spots for the reserves. The Kings struggled to defend the pick and roll for the entire half and the Clippers took advantage. Samuel Dalembert scored on a dunk in the second, ending a streak of fifteen consecutive missed shots. Dalembert is a career 52.4% shooter from the field, but this season he is struggling, shooting just 34.9% over his first thirteen games of the season. The Kings outscored the Clippers by one in the quarter but still trailed by four at the half.
Kings 50 Clippers 50
Leaders
Kings- Landry (15) Points; Landry (6) Rebounds; Head (6) Assists.
Jazz- Griffin (15) Points; Griffin (9) Rebounds; Gordon/Bledsoe (3) Assists.
Team Kings Clippers
FG% 48.8 52.6
Rebounds 20 23
Assists/TO 14/3 9/8
Third Quarter Recap
The Clippers used the third quarter to pull away from the Kings. Guard Eric Gordon went off for twelve points and Blake Griffin continued his strong play, scoring ten points and dunking at will. The Kings went away from what was working- mainly Carl Landry. After scoring fifteen in the first half, Landry finished the quarter with only three more added to his total. Tyreke Evans’ struggles continued. The Kings guard was credited with his first basket at the four minute mark of the third when DeAndre Jordan goal tended a shot that had no chance of going in. At the end of three, the Clippers led by fifteen.
Kings 69 Clippers 84
Leaders
Kings- Landry (18) Points; Landry (6) Rebounds; Head (7) Assists.
Clippers- Gordon (26) Points; Griffin (13) Rebounds; Griffin (5) Assists.
Fourth Quarter Recap
The fourth quarter was a continuation of the third. The Kings repeatedly ignored Carl Landry and the Clippers pushed the lead up to twenty, where it hovered for most of the quarter. By the mid-way point, the loss was imminent and Coach Westphal went heavily to his bench. Guard Luther Head (15 points, 7 assists) was one of the few Kings bright spots, not only having an effective offensive game, but also playing stellar defense on rookie Eric Bledsoe. The Kings gave up way too many easy dunks on the night and fell to the Clippers by eighteen.
Kings 82 Clippers 100
Leaders
Kings- Landry (18) Points; Landry/Cousins (6) Rebounds; Head (7) Assists.
Clippers- Gordon (28) Points; Griffin (15) Rebounds; Gordon (6) Assists.
Team Kings Clippers
FG% 40.8 50.7
Rebounds 35 45
Assists/TO 21/12 19/17
Player of the Game: Blake Griffin. The Clippers “rookie” killed the Kings, going for 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. The Kings had no answer for the Clippers pick and roll, allowing the guards to break down the defense and feed Griffin for wide open hammer dunks.
The Difference Maker: Eric Gordon. Gordon torched the Kings for 12 points in the critical third quarter. Overall, he totaled 28 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds, killing the Kings both inside and out.
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