In the Los Angeles derby, the Clippers defeated the Lakers for the 11th time.
The Los Angeles Clippers recorded a 125-118 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA fixture played in the early hours of Thursday, April 6, 2023.
The Clippers with a three-day rest after their last fixture started out to put up 37 points and take a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Lakers playing on the second night of a back-to-back were unable to keep up the tempo in the second quarter as the red-hot Clippers put up 34 points stretching their lead to 19 points going to the halftime break.
The Lakers responded in teh third quarter, put up 30 points, and with good defense cut the lead down to 11.
Norman Powell and Bones Hyland made several deep shots for the Clippers in the fourth quarter as the Lakers put up 36 points but suffered a seven-point defeat.
Clippers beat Lakers in Los Angeles derby
Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook finally made his first appearance against the Lakers since he was traded to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.
Westbrook started the game but only featured for 20 minutes and recorded 14 points, three rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard played the entirety of the second half logging 43 minutes in total and putting up 25 points, grabbing seven rebounds provided four assists.
LeBron James blames schedule for Lakers loss to Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James played back-to-back for the first time since he returned from injury.
Despite a slow first half, James produced 33 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, one block, and one steal.
James made 13 of his 20 shots, was four of six from three-point range, and was three of five from the free-throw line.
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Speaking after the game, James the NBA All-time top scorer explained that playing on the second night of a back-to-back contributed to the defeat.
He said, "Whatever we end up, that's where we end up.
"For us, it's always about health. Over the last couple years, that's been our Achilles' heel."
"It was one of those scheduling conflicts. It definitely got the best of us tonight."
The Lakers drop to seventh in the Western Conference and continue their push for the playoffs at home for the Phoenix Suns scheduled for Saturday, April 8, 2023.
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