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What we learned from the LA Clippers’ victory over Phoenix

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 17: Paul George #13 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers smile during the game against the Phoenix Suns on December 17, 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 - DECEMBER 17: Paul George #13 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers smile during the game against the Phoenix Suns on December 17, 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 – DECEMBER 17: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on December 17, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 17: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns on December 17, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Skip to my Lou

After missing his first two games of the season during the tail-end of the LA Clippers’ six-game roadie, Lou Williams was inserted back into the rotation Tuesday night. He played just 23 minutes, but he made the most of his time on the floor.

Williams finished the night with 20 points, two rebounds and eight assists while making a season-high five attempts from three-point range. He was magnificent in the second half (as usual), scoring 17 of his total points in that timeframe — 12 of which came during the fourth quarter.

It certainly wasn’t his most impressive game of the season, as Williams did commit six turnovers — one off his season-high — and was generally a negative on defense. But he was an efficient scorer, and he doubled LA’s lead over the Suns in the fourth quarter with one of his most impressive stretches of the season.

Up 75-90 early in the fourth, Williams went down the floor and drained a corner three to end the team’s scoring drought. On the following possession, he caught a pass from Montrezl Harrell, went left, and pulled up and sank another from deep. And on the possession that followed that, he cut right through the defense and took one to the rim.

Finally, he put the Clippers up 80-101 with his fifth three-pointer of the night.

Williams was the third Clippers player to score 20 points on the night, joining Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. It was the 17th time this season that Williams had scored at least 20 in a game, and the 11th time he’d done so while recording at least five assists as well.

It’s still early, but Williams again looks to be one of the main candidates to win the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. Another win would be his fourth, which would be the most any player has ever received in league history.

His main competition is Harrell yet again, who has been equally phenomenal this season. The 25-year-old big is averaging career-highs in points (19.1), rebounds (7.6) and assists (2.0) and is yet to miss a game.

No matter who wins the award, it looks as though the Clippers are well on their way to having the league’s top-scoring bench for a second consecutive season.

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