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Three takeaways from the LA Clippers’ win over the Toronto Raptors

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers and Maurice Harkless #8 of the LA Clippers celebrate during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers and Maurice Harkless #8 of the LA Clippers celebrate during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

LA’s defense comes up big in fourth quarter

Typically, it’s been Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers’ offense that has won games in the fourth quarter so far this season.

That wasn’t the case against Toronto. The Raptors went into the final frame with 78 points and were held to just 10 throughout the final 12 minutes thanks to a strong defensive effort by the Clippers.

Impressively, only six of Toronto’s 10 points were scored in the last nine minutes of the quarter.

Of course, the Raptors were playing their third game in four days, and Monday night’s game was the second night of a back-to-back. It makes a lot of sense that their play would diminish as the night dragged on. However, limiting points has been a pattern for LA recently.

Except for last week’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Clippers have looked like one of the league’s best defensive teams lately. Dating back to LA’s win over the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, the Clippers have allowed just 102 points per game. Remove Milwaukee’s 129-point outing (which they did against the Leonard-less Clippers), and that number drops down to 97.6 per game — a number that would rank first in the NBA.

More importantly, LA has been doing this without Paul George, who is arguably the team’s best defender.

The 29-year-old star was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate last season, grabbing a league-high 2.2 steals per game and locking down players from almost every position.

As soon as the Clippers get him back — and it should be very soon now — the defense is going to take another step towards becoming the best in the league. Given LA’s ability to score at will, that figures to be a deadly combination.

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