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What we learned from the LA Clippers’ bounce back win over Charlotte

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

After being handed their first loss of the season in Phoenix, the LA Clippers returned home and took down the Charlotte Hornets by a final score of 111-96.

The LA Clippers didn’t look much like themselves Saturday night when the Phoenix Suns put up 130 points on them in their first loss of the season. Players were missing rotations, failing to cover three-point shooters and ultimately just didn’t bring it as hard as the Suns did.

A few of those issues were still present in the Clippers’ 111-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets, but it certainly looked as though LA had made a few changes since then.

The Clippers came out of the gate firing Monday night, drawing up several plays for Landry Shamet to get things going on offense. He caught fire in the first quarter, playing all 12 minutes and connecting on four of his five attempts from three-point range.

Shamet’s sweet-shooting, paired with Kawhi Leonard‘s own ability to score with ease, was enough to put the Clippers up by as many as 14 in the first quarter of play.

Like the Suns, though, the Hornets didn’t give up and continued to play the Clippers hard. It wouldn’t be long before they would erase their 14-point deficit and turn it into a five-point lead of their own early in the second quarter.

Charlotte’s effort was spearheaded by Malik Monk and Devonte’ Graham, who combined for 29 points and 13 assists in their loss. Graham has been surprising thus far for the Hornets, averaging 17.5 points and 7.3 assists in 28.5 minutes per game.

The Clippers were clinging to a 57-54 lead at the half, and despite retaking the lead late in the second quarter, LA was looking like they could again be in trouble against a lesser team.

The third quarter proved to be the Clippers’ most dominant, outscoring Charlotte 29-20 in the frame. It was also LA’s second-best defensive quarter of the young season, outdone only the Lakers’ 17-point fourth quarter in the season opener.

Leonard scored six points in the third and 10 more in the fourth, putting the Hornets away for good and picking up LA’s third win of the season.

To get a better idea of what we can take from this performance, head on to the next slide.

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