Paul George missed a potential game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds of the LA Clippers' 101-103 loss
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00:00 The fourth and final regular season meeting between the L Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers
00:04 didn't show us anything we didn't already know. Rather it just reinforced
00:08 the fact that a seven game playoff series from the two teams would be
00:11 basketball at its very best. Following a four month long break in the season, the
00:16 Clippers and Lakers made everything feel like a hard-fought down-to-the-wire
00:19 contest between West Carolina's heavyweights. The Clippers ultimately came up short losing
00:23 103-101 in the final seconds of the game, but it could have gone either way.
00:28 It was all Lakers early with Anthony Davis pouring in 14 first-quarter points and
00:33 putting the lead as high as 13 for the Lakers. The Clippers made a strong effort in the
00:37 second and third quarters to get back into the game and led by as many as 11
00:40 points the second half. Things remained close at the fourth quarter with less
00:44 than a minute to play. Paul George seemed to very clutch with the corner to try the game
00:48 at 101, but LeBron James got clutch in the final two possessions, collecting an
00:52 offensive rebound and scoring to put his team ahead and playing strong defense on
00:56 Kawhi Leonard and George to force a difficult final shot. George hit with a
01:00 three-pointer as the clock expired, but the shot missed and the Lakers came out
01:04 on top. Leonard and George were terrific for LA,
01:08 combining 58 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. Each player was
01:14 efficient from the field as well, going 8-3 overall and 9-15 two-point range.
01:18 We're still kind of figuring it out, Leonard said after the game. It was a good game.
01:23 Just a lot of fun out there. I was ready to be back on the floor. That said, not every
01:27 Clippers player looked incredible out there on the floor tonight. Marcus Morris,
01:31 Landry Schammett, and Reggie Jackson combined to shoot just 4-22 from the
01:34 floor and he beats his Zoo boss, only extending to come and get reclaimed with his team
01:38 after arriving late to the bubble. Perhaps the biggest thing Clippers fans
01:42 take from this game though is what the team managed to accomplish without Montrose
01:45 Harrell and Lou Williams on the floor. The star reserves are both inactive for
01:49 tonight's contest and that's a significant loss to deal with. On the year, Harrell and
01:53 Williams are averaging roughly 37 points and are the biggest contributors to a
01:57 bench that scores a league-best 51.5 per game. Losing to this Lakers
02:02 team without them and a limited contribution from Patrick Beverley is
02:05 nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, this one officially counts in the loss column and
02:09 brings Clippers one game closer to the postseason, but the team we saw tonight
02:12 isn't nearly as good as the one we'll see making a push to the NBA title once
02:17 they're back at full strength. Clippers will have this Friday to rest before
02:21 taking on the New Orleans Pelicans this Saturday at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.