Honorable Mention: November 5, 2017 — Heat 104, Clippers 101
Lou’s Line: 22 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
The Miami game was the first time we saw Williams take over.
After trailing by as many as 25, the Clippers went into the fourth quarter facing a 23-point deficit. Williams had recorded nine points in the previous three quarters, and fans were ready to throw in the towel.
Not two minutes into the fourth, Lou had already scored seven straight points, and had brought the Miami lead down to 16. The next Clipper bucket was scored by Sam Dekker, and assisted by Williams.
Fast forward a few minutes, when Lou connects on another shot, bringing his tally up to 18. By this point, the Clippers were down just five. On the following possession, he does it again — 20 now for Williams.
LA would eventually go up, 95-93, only to have the lead taken away again. Williams scored his 22nd point with 1:43 to go, putting the Clippers down one. Miami went on a late run to win it, 104-101.
Williams finished the game with 22 points, 13 of which he scored in the fourth. The Heat scored just 15 in the same quarter. From that point on, expectations were heightened quite a bit — yet he always managed to live up to them.