LOS ANGELES — Brandon Boston Jr. is caught in that indeterminate state where he wants to see the Clippers’ stars return to the court, but at the same time, he doesn’t mind them sitting, either.
With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Luke Kennard and Norman Powell on the bench on Saturday afternoon, the second-year guard got another chance to show his skills in something other than a G League game. He scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, going 4 for 6 from 3-point range in 21 minutes in the Clippers’ 123-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
“I want those guys back, but I feel that everybody should be ready to step up,” Boston said. “I want to show that I belong up here (NBA) with the regular team and contribute for the team to win.”
Boston, who played 22 minutes largely garbage time in Wednesday’s loss to Utah, said he went out Saturday feeling “loose out there, just free in my mind, unconscious.
“I played like the kid that I am because I know I put in the work before practice and after practice. And the team trusts me.”
Boston is averaging 3.8 points and 2 rebounds in six games this season. He had a breakout game last season against the Boston Celtics.
With George sidelined, the wing hit 9 of 13 shots, including 5 of 8 3-point attempts, for 27 points. He also had four steals in 25 minutes.
Coach Tyronn Lue singled out Boston’s play as one of the highlights in a game full of lowlights.
“Brandon Boston, you know, some catch-and-shoot threes and getting to the basket and getting to the free-throw line and just the pace he was playing at offensively,” Lue said. “Then taking the challenge defensively as well.
“We’ve been challenging him to be better defensively, and he’s done that. So, we know he can score the basketball but taking that next step of being better defensively, he’s done that.”
STARS GOING ON TRIP
Lue said that Leonard and George, neither of whom played on Saturday, will travel with the team on its four-game East Coast trip that begins Monday in Charlotte.
Lue had said Friday that Leonard’s availability for Saturday’s game would depend on how he felt after doing through practice. While he said the five-time All-Star felt good, he wasn’t ready to play.
“We’ll get him back real soon,” Lue said. “He’s going on the trip, so that’s a positive.”
Lue reiterated that both players are eager to return to the court.
“I mean they definitely want to play,” he said. “We just have to be smart about it. You hate to see this happen.”
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