After a tragic week in Los Angeles, the Clippers remained strong. They have played tremendous basketball to begin a three-game win streak. Due to the blistering winds in Los Angeles, some of the worst wildfires Southern California has ever seen struck people’s homes and businesses. The fires caused the NBA to reschedule some Lakers’ and Clippers’ home games. But since the Clippers came back onto the floor last Monday, they left their struggles in the past. The Clippers offense has performed at an elite level, while making some history in the process.
LA Clippers Offense Has Historic Week to Begin Win Streak
The Clippers returned to play against the Miami Heat, who had Jimmy Butler (suspension) and Bam Adebayo (injured) sidelined. In a 109-98 victory, James Harden and his all-around performance was the difference in this game. Distributing the basketball has been Harden’s strength around this Clippers offense. He is leading the team in assists, averaging eight per game.
In the following game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Clippers would play one of the all-time most dominant displays of basketball in a game. LA’s 59-point win was tied for the tenth-largest margin of victory in NBA history and the largest in Clippers history. The Clippers played an astonishing third quarter, where they went on a 32-3 run on the Nets. This was also the game where Kawhi Leonard began to look like himself again. He scored 23 points and shot 8-11 from the field.
Facing a back-to-back, the Clippers traveled to Portland to play the struggling Trail Blazers and the dominance continued. Norman Powell continued his incredible season, pouring in a steady 23 points against a Portland team he once called home. This game also resulted in a 29-point victory that concluded a historical two-day stretch. LA defeated Brooklyn and Portland by a combined margin of 88 points, tying the largest margin in league history.
59 + 29 = 88
Our back-to-back big wins tie for the largest margin over a 2-day span in @NBA history! pic.twitter.com/VlUer4dUxr
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 17, 2025
How Well Have the Clippers Played
The Clippers offense has improved, scoring an average of 117.7 points a game during their three-game win streak. The stellar shooting performances from Powell’s career year certainly have helped, averaging a team-best 23.7 points a game. While Leonard slowly gets back into a rhythm and the offense has been led by Harden, Powell has held his own during this win streak. As All-Star selections are around the corner, now is the time for Powell to get hot at the right time.
Defensively, the Clippers are currently one of the best teams in the league. As good as it has been, they have allowed 84.7 points throughout the win streak. It’s certainly a magnificent stat in an era where every team scores in triple figures almost every game. Statistically, the Clippers are second in the NBA in defensive rating at 107.3, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers are also top-three in steals per game at 9.8. With an active defense built from the minds of head coach Tyronn Lue and head assistant Jeff Van Gundy, the Clippers look to continue their dominance on defense.
Clippers Have Opportunity to Prove Themselves as a Strong Team in the West
Moving forward, the Clippers have 14 games until the All-Star break and have a balanced schedule coming up. LA will face title contenders of the East, as well as hosting the crosstown rival Lakers for the first time at the Intiuit Dome. The Clippers lead the Pacific Division by a half-game over the Lakers and sit fifth in the Western Conference. The road to the All-Star break will prove how legitimate the Clippers are for the road to the playoffs.
The post LA Clippers Offense Has Historic Week to Begin Win Streak appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.