NBA --- Kawhi dominates as Clippers dispatch the Knicks 129-115
By Oliver Iglesias
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Feb 2021
NEW YORK – Kawhi Leonard registered 28 points and went perfect (11-for-11) on free throws to lift the LA Clippers to a 129-115 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon at the Madison Square Garden.
Facing one of the best defensive teams in the Knicks, the Clippers relied on its prolific starters who all finished in double figures.
Guard Reggie Jackson chipped in 18 markers, All-Star Paul George added 17, newly-acquired center Serge Ibaka produced 15 and Patrick Patterson contributed 13 for the Clippers’ highest points total for the season. Veteran forward Marcus Morris Sr. also joined the fray from the bench with 11 points.
The Clippers were leading by one at the half, 66-65, and wasted no time mounting a 7-0 attack to start the third quarter to make it 73-65.
Clipper Reggie Jackson scored 10 points in the said period highlighted by two 3-pointers, Kawhi Leonard was hitting his pull up jumpers and his emphatic dunk with 3:47 left made it 92-82.
The Knicks were led by Julius Randle with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Former Kentucky Wildcat and rookie Immanuel Quickley had 25 markers while sophomore guard RJ Barrett added 23.
Asked by reporters via Zoom on the Knicks’ team play, Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau reacted “I thought offensively it was good. Defensively, it’s not what we would have liked.”
The Clippers improve to 16-5, going 9-1 in their last 10 games and are now ranked first in the Western Conference. The Knicks dropped to 9-12.
The Clippers posted an impressive 54.3% on field goals (44-for-81) and 44.7% on three-balls (17-for-38 conversion) while the Knicks had 48.2% FG (41-for-85) and a measly 37% (10-for-27) on three-pointers.
Adapting to the “new normal” in covering today’s NBA games, this beat writer had the chance to participate in the post-game media conference via Zoom and observed the Clippers’ main man Kawhi Leonard. (Note: Special thanks to the respective Public Relations Teams of the Clippers and the Knicks for the coverage opportunity.)
Asked to comment on the 17 three-point bombs the Clippers drained during the game, Leonard humbly mentioned the essence of teamwork, “Every game, I mean with confidence. It is a team sport. Whoever has a good look gets the chance to shoot and if we do 44 or 45% and we win, it’s good.”
The Knicks visit Chicago on Monday while the Clippers stay to play against the Nets on Tuesday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Oliver Iglesias.
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