LOS ANGELES — This game had all the vibe of a playoff contest with a packed arena, full of fans snapping pictures with the phones of the newest Clippers player in his first game and high expectations of a victory.
And Russell Westbrook didn’t disappoint in his debut in a 176-175 double-overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena – the second-highest scoring game in NBA history. It was his first game since being traded by the Lakers two weeks ago and then signing with the Clippers earlier this week.
After receiving an enthusiastic standing ovation in the same arena where he previously had been booed, the point guard scored the Clippers’ first two points on free throws. He then dished off passes to Marcus Morris Sr. and Mason Plumlee. The Westbrook era had begun, not with a victory but with a wild, entertaining game that got away from the Clippers down the stretch.
After the Clippers (33-29) led by as many as 14 points with 4:28 left in regulation, the hosts and the Kings (34-25) engaged in a show of one-upmanship in two overtime periods. Kawhi Leonard finished with a season-high 44 points (one short of tying his career high) for the Clippers, but the Kings took advantage of 25 Clipper turnovers and came up with key baskets by Malik Monk (career-high 45 points) and De’Aaron Fox (42) in the final seconds.
The Clippers had a 175-169 advantage with 1:57 remaining in the second overtime before the Kings scored the final seven points, including Fox’s jumper with 36.5 seconds remaining. The Clippers had the final shot, but Nicolas Batum missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
Westbrook, who started, figured in both overtime periods, logging two baskets and two assists and finished with 17 points, 14 assists and five rebounds (and seven turnovers) in 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the second overtime. His 14 assists matched Andre Miller’s 2002 effort for the most by a player in his Clippers…
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