LA Clippers continue to own this Western Conference star

Entering Monday night’s game, the LA Clippers had been struggling against great point guards this season.

First, it was Steph Curry going off for 45 points on 8 of 13 shooting from three. Then, it was Ja Morant gashing the Clippers on his way to 28 points on 10 of 19 shooting. The two were walking highlight reels against the Clips.

Then, a familiar face who the Clippers seem to always get the best of showed up to Staples. He’s a star himself, but doesn’t quite look like it when he’s playing the Clips. That continued on Monday night.

The LA Clippers dominated Damian Lillard yet again on Monday night.

Damian Lillard is a great player in this league, but the LA Clippers had him looking pedestrian when he came to LA Monday night.

Lillard went 4 of 15 (26.7%) from the field against the Clippers for just 12 points. In the last six years, Lillard has averaged 27.2 points per game and shot 44.3% from the field.

He threw up eight three-point shots–all bricks. He shot 37.8% from three in the last six years. He had just three assists, after coming into the game averaging a career-high 9.5 assists per contest.

The Clippers match up very well against Dame. They’ve beat him in all six of their last six meetings, and he’s been a shell of himself.

There was a lot to like about the game from an offensive standpoint, like putting up 116 points without playing any starters over 27 minutes. Luke Kennard was automatic from three, hitting 6 of 7 shots from deep (8 of 10 from the field) for 23 points. Defensively, however, the Clips were even more impressive.

It wasn’t just a career-high in steals from Paul George (eight) that was impressive from this team defensively. It was a team effort to slow down one of the top stars in the Western Conference…again.