Russell Westbrook started and finished his LA Clippers debut to loud applause.
Westbrook had as impressive a start as any point guard playing in his first game with the franchise. But the game between the Clippers and the Sacramento Kings was far from over when Westbrook picked up his sixth personal foul in the second overtime.
The teams played out a breathtaking duel that ended as the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history, with Sacramento repeatedly coming from behind to edge out the Clippers 176–175 in two overtimes.
Not only was the sellout crowd of 19,068 at Crypto.com Arena in awe, but several members of the Clippers said they’d never seen anything like the game they just played.
“It’s crazy,” said Westbrook, who started and had 17 points, 14 assists, and seven turnovers in 39 minutes before fouling out with 1:49 remaining in the second overtime. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of a game with that many points. I feel fresh off the All-Star break.”
It was a game that featured back-and-forth scoring like an All-Star Game, but one that was fiercely competitive.
The Kings and Clippers scored the third and fourth most points respectively in NBA history, trailing only the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets 186–184 triple-overtime game on December 13, 1983.
Both teams shot 58.6% or better from the field and hit a combined 44 3-pointers. Kawhi Leonard played his best game since tearing his right ACL in Game 4 of the second round against Utah on June 14, 2021. He dominated on both ends of the floor, finishing with 44 points on 16-of-22 shooting. with four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks in 46 minutes – the most minutes he has played in a regular season game.
But it was not enough to overcome the Kings duo of D’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. With Domantas Sabonis in foul trouble, Fox had 42 points and 12 assists, while Monk scored 45 points and six assists off the bench. According to ESPN Stats & Information Research, Fox and Monk are the first pair of teammates to each record 40 points and five assists since Westbrook and Paul George did the same on February 22, 2019, against Oklahoma City.
The Clippers led 145–131 with 4:25 remaining in regulation, but they turned the ball over four straight times to set up a 22–8 Sacramento run. Monk buried a 3 with 2.1 seconds left to force overtime.
The Clippers led by six in overtime and six again in the second overtime, but could not hold on to their lead. The Kings scored the last seven points in the final 1:46 to erase the deficit, 175–169. The Clippers ended with 25 turnovers, which led to 42 Kings points.
The ending spoiled the promising start of Westbrook’s Clippers career. After a tumultuous season and a half with the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook was traded to Utah, who cut him out of his contract.
George and other players on the Clippers lobbied LA to sign Westbrook. It was delivered on Friday night. Westbrook amped up the pace, attacking the rim aggressively and setting up teammates for scores while not settling for 3-point shots. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Westbrook’s 14 assists are tied for the most among team starts in Clippers franchise history.
And while he led the team in turnovers with seven, Westbrook played with the type of control Clippers coach Ty Lue wanted to see in his first game with his new team after only two practices.
Westbrook scored on time in overtime, drilling his only 3-pointer from the right corner with 3:32 left in the first overtime and scoring a drive to the rim with 4:21 left in the second overtime. He assisted Leonard and Mason Plumlee on two consecutive baskets with less than three minutes left in the second overtime.
“It’s exactly what I envisioned,” said George, who enjoyed his best season playing alongside Westbrook in Oklahoma City in 2018-19. “I was high on juice being a part of this team because of what he brings, and you saw glimpses of that tonight.”
George, Leonard, and Lue helped convince Clippers management to sign Westbrook, and his debut saw the team set a franchise record in points and season highs in assists (39) and 3-pointers (26). Make it
“We needed a point guard,” George said. “We needed someone you saw tonight, someone to put us on offense, someone to get us easy baskets, and a floor general. That was the only thing we needed.”
Westbrook played a good amount of time without the ball in his hands, waiting to attack when he got the ball, or even setting screens.
“I’m just trying to find ways to be effective when I’m on the floor,” Westbrook said. “And whatever I’m asked, screening, whatever, rolling, handling, whatever it may be. Cutting. Just try to do different things to affect the game and help others make plays.” Use my IQ to be competent.”
Westbrook said he would watch the film of the high-octane game to see how he could play better with Leonard and George and improve on an impressive start.
It was a night in which the Clippers crowd embraced Westbrook from the time he came out for warm-ups to the time he fouled out in the second overtime.
Westbrook said of what he remembered from his debut, “Just the ability to be able to go out and compete.” “I think it’s something I don’t take lightly, given the opportunity to go [and] play elsewhere. Not only that, but the support of the organization, my teammates, the fans, overall, it’s been a great start.” Yes, but just did not win.
“And that’s the sad part about it, but being able to take it out, just go out there and compete, the support system around it was always high. So I appreciate that very much.”