INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The LA Clippers (1-6) controlled this game for three quarters and gave it away in the fourth, losing 125-118 to the Toronto Raptors (4-3) on Monday night at Intuit Dome — their sixth straight loss.
The Clippers led 33-22 after the first quarter and 63-52 at halftime, and they pushed the lead to 16 points. Kobe Sanders was hitting threes, Isaiah Jackson was finishing everything inside, and Toronto — playing the second night of a back-to-back, without Kawhi Leonard and Jakob Poeltl — looked like a team running out of time. The Clippers still led 91-78 entering the fourth quarter.
Then the game turned completely. Toronto scored 47 points in the fourth quarter, matching its franchise record for a fourth quarter, and outscored the Clippers 47-27. Scottie Barnes, who had seven points through three quarters, scored 15 in the fourth, and Immanuel Quickley added 14 of his 27 in the period — the two of them scored 29 of Toronto’s 47. Barnes closed the game at the free-throw line, making free throws with 17 seconds, nine seconds and one second left to keep the Clippers from getting the ball back with a chance.
The comparison shows how Toronto did it. The Clippers actually won the three-point shooting — 13-for-35 to Toronto’s 8-for-29 — and had more assists, 29 to 26. But Toronto shot 51.8 percent from the field to the Clippers’ 46.2, outscored them in the paint 62-54, won the rebounds 41-38, and lived at the free-throw line: 31-for-48, against 21-for-27 for the Clippers, who committed 34 fouls. Toronto kept going at the rim, and the Clippers kept fouling.
Quickley led Toronto with 27 points, RJ Barrett scored 26, and Barnes finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Collin Murray-Boyles, starting at center with Poeltl out, scored 18 points with seven rebounds, and Jamison Battle hit four three-pointers for 12 points.
Sanders led the Clippers with 26 points and five three-pointers. Jackson scored 19 points on 9-for-11 shooting with eight rebounds, and Darius Garland had 16 points and eight assists but also seven turnovers. Brook Lopez, Kris Dunn and Gradey Dick scored 12 apiece. The Clippers played without Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram and Rui Hachimura — but a 16-point home lead is a 16-point home lead, and they let it go in 12 minutes.
The Clippers’ next game is Wednesday at home against the Miami Heat.
Article provided by Sports Tracker
© Old Town News Scottsdale — oldtownnews.us
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