2023 NBA playoffs – LA double feature shows Lakers returning to form, Clippers faltering

For so long as they’ve shared basketball rights — and hearts — in Los Angeles, there have been remarkably few playoff matchups between the Lakers and Clippers over time. Like zero, to be exact. Fifteen years in the past, the Lakers had been one win away from creating the primary “Hallway Sequence” at Staples Heart. Final 12 months, the Clippers had been one win away from confronting their rivals within the Western Convention finals. However alas, the Lakers blew a 3-1 collection lead towards the Phoenix Suns in 2006, and the Clippers did the identical towards the Denver Nuggets in 2023.

There was an opportunity they’d play within the first or second spherical this 12 months, however the Clippers one way or the other managed to lose their remaining two video games of the common season to 2 of the worst groups within the league to defer a possible matchup till the convention finals.

That’s it. A bunch of what-might-have-beens and Tuesday night time’s very-oddly-scheduled doubleheader with each LA groups — nonetheless the betting favorites in Las Vegas to return out of the Western Convention — tipping off inside a half hour of one another, each making an attempt to return again after dropping the primary recreation of their respective first-round playoff collection.

On this night time, the 2 groups had been stepping into very totally different instructions. The seventh-seeded Lakers beat the second-seeded Suns 109-102 in entrance of a raucous, principally maskless crowd of 11,919 in Phoenix to even their best-of-7 collection at 1-1 heading again to Los Angeles.

The fourth-seeded Clippers regarded misplaced making an attempt to resolve the brilliance of Dallas Mavericks famous person level guard Luka Doncic (39 factors, seven rebounds, seven assists), trailed by double-digits at dwelling for many of the night time in entrance of a surprised, fully-masked crowd of 6,885 at Staples Heart and misplaced 127-121 to fall right into a 2-0 gap heading again to Dallas.

Solely 31 groups in NBA historical past have received the primary two video games of a best-of-7 collection on the highway. Twenty-seven of these groups went on to win the collection.

Lengthy odds for the Clippers, who should now take a protracted look within the mirror to determine how these previous two seasons, which started with a lot promise, may have gone to date off observe.

Will the tantalizing battle of LA — which appeared so inevitable after the groups tussled over Kawhi Leonard in free company two summers in the past — ever occur?

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Luka Doncic continues his stellar postseason begin by scoring 39 factors and main Dallas to a 2-0 collection lead.

For 2 groups beginning the night time in the identical gap, they ended it additional aside than ever. The Clippers are actually two video games away from elimination and in a deep existential disaster. The Lakers have seemingly righted the ship with dominant performances from Anthony Davis (34 factors, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks) and LeBron James (23 factors, 9 assists) and a wounded opponent heading again dwelling for 2 video games at Staples Heart.

Davis had put the loss in Sport 1 on himself and vowed to do higher. After that recreation he was requested if James had given him any recommendation on how one can reply. “We’ve been collectively for some time now,” Davis stated. “He don’t should be in my ear. He noticed it on my face. Since final 12 months he’s at all times been on me about perfection, taking part in arduous, taking part in by way of environments like this. So it’s paying off. I received to the purpose the place I don’t want Bron to return in and inform me what I have to do. I do know now.”

James and the Lakers tipped off first, they usually had each expertise — James had by no means misplaced the primary two video games of a playoff collection in his 14-year profession — and circumstance — Phoenix level guard Chris Paul was hampered all recreation with a shoulder harm — on their aspect.

Nonetheless, Phoenix made a aggressive recreation of it behind gutty performances from Devin Booker (31 factors) and reserve guard Cameron Payne (19 factors, 7 assists), and one other uber-efficient night time from third-year middle Deandre Ayton (22 factors, 10 rebounds on 11-13 capturing).

Payne even rallied the Suns to a 90-89 lead late within the fourth quarter, discovering Ayton for a dunk with 5:39 to go. However the championship mettle of James and Davis took over down the stretch as they scored 16 of the Lakers remaining 18 factors to seal the highway win.

It’s arduous to know, because it at all times is when Paul suffers an harm within the playoffs, how various things may need been if he was wholesome. He took simply 5 pictures Tuesday night time and sat out over 9 minutes of the second half with an injured proper shoulder which stored him from even trying a 3-pointer, each profession playoff lows in response to ESPN Stats & Data.

With Paul injured, Booker and Payne understood they wanted to fill each the scoring void, and the management hole, which they did admirably. However down the stretch, that they had no reply for Davis and James.

“It’s going to be robust, however all of us should step up,” Booker stated. “We don’t understand how his well being is correct now. How rapidly he’s going to recuperate. However everyone has to offer somewhat bit extra.”

The Clippers tipped off a half hour later, decided to be extra aggressive in attacking the rim towards a persistently inconsistent Dallas protection, and principally succeeded in doing so.

Leonard scored 30 of his game-high 41 factors within the first half. George had 28 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. However no person had a solution for Doncic, whose brilliance appears to be rising exponentially.

Within the first recreation of the collection, the Clippers had been reluctant to tire George or Leonard out by assigning them to defend Doncic. In Sport 2, that they had no different selection.

Even when the Clippers went to their cheat code: placing Leonard — a former Defensive Participant of the Yr — on Doncic, he nonetheless managed to attain eight factors on 3 of 6 capturing.

However maybe most damaging, Doncic pivoted to organising his teammates each time the Clippers made some extent of stopping him. The Mavericks feasted on uncontested 3-pointers on Tuesday, hitting 11 of 14 (79 %) and 18-of-34 3-pointers general.

Tim Hardaway Jr. hit 6-of-8 3-pointers as a part of his 28 factors. Kristaps Porzingis hit 3-of-4 3s as a part of his 20 factors.

“I give credit score to Luka. He’s good. He’s particular,” George stated. “We received to rise to the event. If we don’t, we’re achieved for.”