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What we learned from the LA Clippers’ win over Washington

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Derrick Walton Jr. #10 of the LA Clippers during warm up before a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Derrick Walton Jr. #10 of the LA Clippers during warm up before a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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PLAYA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: A behind the scenes photo of Derrick Walton Jr. #10 of the LA Clippers signing autographs at media day on September 29, 2019, at the Honey Training Center: Home of the LA Clippers in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: A behind the scenes photo of Derrick Walton Jr. #10 of the LA Clippers signing autographs at media day on September 29, 2019, at the Honey Training Center: Home of the LA Clippers in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Derrick Walton Jr. gets the game ball

For the first time this season, Derrick Walton Jr. got non-garbage time minutes in a competitive NBA game. Unsurprisingly, he played very well.

The Summer League standout spent 12 minutes on the floor against Washington, logging seven points, one rebound and an assist. And while those numbers aren’t incredible, they came at a crucial time for the LA Clippers.

Walton replaced Terance Mann with 2:02 remaining in the third quarter. At that point, the Clippers were clinging to a 92-89 lead and in need of anything that would get the offense going. From there, LA would go on an 8-4 run, putting the Clippers up by seven going into the final frame. Walton scored two of the last eight points and found Lou Williams for a jumper on the quarter’s final possession.

That stretch was enough for Walton to get the nod going into the fourth, and his impressive played continued.

Less than two minutes into the quarter, Walton drained a three-pointer that put LA up eight, and a few minutes later hit a jumper to put them up by nine.

He was subbed out with 4:29 remaining, but the game was already over by then — and he had been part of LA’s most crucial run of the game.

With 6:34 left in the game, Washington cut into LA’s lead to make it 113-109. Over the next two minutes, Walton and the Clippers would outscore the Wizards 8-3 to put the game out of reach.

This one wasn’t just about Walton’s timely scoring and two-way play, though. His performance couldn’t have come at a better time.

On a night when the Clippers were already shorthanded, Mann and Jerome Robinson were having disappointing nights. The two finished the game with just two combined points and were -18 and -13, respectively.

Walton stepped up when he was needed, fulfilling the “next man up” mentality that the LA Clippers have operated with during the past few seasons.

The Clippers would be wise to call on him again Monday night for some extra offense, as Kawhi Leonard will likely sit out. After his performance tonight, it wouldn’t be surprising if he comes off the bench before Robinson and Mann.

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