The LA Clippers secure a crucial win in the Windy City

While a shorthanded roster got crushed by the Cavaliers, the LA Clippers regained their stars and took care of the Bulls. This win was vital as a loss may have had them in the middle of the play-in tournament. However, the victory has the Clippers in a firm position with the fourth seed.

Moreover, franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard continues to impress with another remarkable outing. In addition to his 33 points, Leonard filled the box scores with five assists, five steals, and two blocks. This stat line was one of the best two-way showings the NBA has seen all season.

What may come off as more surprising is that Leonard played 40 minutes in a regular-season match-up. Though this may be an excellent sign, head coach Tyronn Lue and the coaching staff should utilize Leonard cautiously as the postseason is more important.

Additionally, Paul George had a phenomenal performance despite shooting 7-16 from the field. Through his 40 minutes of action, George posted 16 points, ten rebounds, seven assists, and two steals. The scoring may have been missing, but the two-way stud found other ways to make an impact.

The LA Clippers’ defense is the reason the Bulls lost another.

Lue’s defensive scheme kept the team alive as the LA Clippers shot 39.8% from the field and 27.3% from a distance. Furthermore, the Bulls turned the ball over 20 times, including several mistakes down the stretch.

One of the biggest motives for the Clippers erasing a large deficit was the slashing wing, Norman Powell. In the minutes the stars were off the floor, Powell ignited a notable scoring run as he finished with 27 points, four rebounds, and four assists while shooting ten-of-ten from the strike.

The interior big man, Ivica Zubac, also dominated with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. More importantly, he was a +15 in the 28 minutes he was on the court. This is something to take note of, especially moving close to the playoffs.

Nonetheless, the LA Clippers will be looking to spark another winning streak with their next match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks. This game will show the staff where the team is in their postseason race. As the Clippers tend to struggle against elite teams, a win will be crucial through the year’s second half.