In their first preseason game of the 2018-2019 season, the LA Clippers defeated the NBL’s Sydney Kings behind several great performances.
LA Clippers basketball is officially back, and the team put forth a solid effort all-around to claim victory over the Sydney Kings by a score of 110-91.
The Clippers never trailed the Aussie ball club, though the Kings did manage to tie the game up late in the first quarter. Leading by just five points at halftime, LA locked in during the latter half of the game, giving up as many points (37) in the final two quarters as they did in the second.
Point Guard Patrick Beverley‘s energy was evident early on in his first game since November 20. In the first few minutes of the game, he had already recorded both a steal and a block. He finished the night with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks across 24 minutes of action.
Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari were LA’s top two scorers, recording 20 and 19 points, respectively. Harris also hauled in 11 rebounds and dished out five assists.
Marcin Gortat, LA’s newest addition to the starting rotation, had a solid game as well. His defensive game didn’t look as polished as DeAndre Jordan‘s, rather, it’s on the offensive side of the floor that Gortat shines.
He recorded 12 points and nine rebounds across 26 minutes of play, and also logged three assists. Gortat showed that he can be a solid facilitator with LA’s starters, and helped keep the offense flowing with his superb screen-and-roll skills.
Rookie guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson each made appearances last night as well. Gilgeous-Alexander looked particularly impressive, going for 10 points, four assists, and four steals. He looked calm against the Kings, something that seems to have carried over from his Summer League play.
Robinson logged just one minute of play, making the most of it by converting his only attempt and dishing out an assist. He should see more minutes as the preseason progresses, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be running with the second unit.
Sydney’s Jerome Randle scored a game-high 25 points, many of which came in the Kings’ 37-point second quarter. Beyond those 12 minutes, LA’s ‘Clamp City’ mantra proved true.
The LA Clippers will continue their preseason this Wednesday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 PM PST.