Russell Westbrook received a rousing ovation when he started and finished his LA Clippers debut.
Westbrook had as impressive a start as any point guard playing in his first game with the franchise.
But the Clippers and Sacramento Kings weren’t done playing when Westbrook picked up his sixth personal foul in the second overtime.
Read Also
The two teams engaged in a breathtaking duel that ended as the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, with Sacramento repeatedly coming from behind before outlasting the Clippers 176-175 in two overtimes.
Not only was the sellout crowd of 19,068 at Crypto.com Arena in awe at the end, but several members of the Clippers said they had never seen anything like the game they just played in.
“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.
The Kings and Clippers scored the third- and fourth-most points in a game in NBA history, respectively, trailing only the Detroit Pistons’ and Denver Nuggets 186-184 triple overtime game on Dec. 13, 1983 as most points scored.
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 was dominant on both ends of the floor, finishing with 44 points on 16-of-22 shooting to go with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in 46 minutes — the most minutes he has ever played in a regular-season game.
Fox and Monk are the first pair of teammates to each record 40 points and five assists in the same game since Westbrook and Paul George did it with Oklahoma City on Feb. 22, 2019, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Monk buried a 3 with 2.1 seconds left to force overtime.
The Clippers led by six in overtime and by six again in the second overtime but could not hold onto their lead.
The Kings scored the final seven points to erase a 175-169 deficit in the final 1:46.
The Clippers finished with 25 turnovers, which led to 42 Kings points.
The ending spoiled what was otherwise a terrific start to Westbrook’s Clippers career.
Westbrook pushed the pace, was aggressive attacking the rim while not settling for 3-point shots and set up teammates for scores.
Westbrook’s 14 assists are tied for the most in a team debut in Clippers franchise history, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
And while he did lead the team in turnovers with seven, Westbrook played with the type of control that Clippers coach Ty Lue wanted to see in just his first game with his new team after only two practices.
Westbrook made timely scores in the overtimes, drilling his only 3-pointer from the right corner with 3:32 left in the first overtime and scoring on a drive to the rim with 4:21 left in the second overtime.
He also assisted Leonard and Mason Plumlee on two consecutive baskets with under three minutes left in the second overtime.
“It’s about what I imagined,” said George, who enjoyed his best season while playing with Westbrook in Oklahoma City in 2018-19.
George, Leonard and Lue helped convince Clippers management to sign Westbrook, and his debut saw the team set a new franchise record in points scored and season highs in assists (39) and made 3-pointers (26).
“We needed a point guard,” George said.
Westbrook played a good amount without the ball in his hands, waiting to attack when he got the ball or setting screens as well.
Just try to do different things to impact the game and using my IQ to be able to make plays for others.”
Westbrook said he will watch film of Friday night’s high-octane game to see how he can play better alongside Leonard and George and improve upon what was an impressive debut.
It was a night in which the Clippers’ crowd embraced Westbrook from the moment he came out for warmups to when he fouled out of the game in the second overtime.
“Just the ability to be able to go out and compete,” Westbrook said of what he will remember from his debut.
