(Alonzo Adams / Associated Press)
Buzzer Reaction
 Los Angeles Clippers |
 Oklahoma City Thunder |
MVP: On most nights, a Russell Westbrook line of 26 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds would be worthy enough to give him game honors. This was not most nights, though, and a large reason this game was so competitive and fun to watch was for the performance of one Austin Rivers. The younger Rivers scored a career-high 32 points on 12-19 shooting, along with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. The biggest surprise, though, was watching him make 7 of his 9 three-point attempts.
That was … an inspired performance: With Luc Mbah a Moute as the only regular starter to play in tonight’s contest, this game was expected to be a blow out. Instead, the team was able to keep the game competitive thanks to stellar play from the rest of the roster. They may have only had nine players in uniform, but four of them would score in double figures.
X factor: The Clippers were outrebounded by 20 points, but were able to make the came competitive thanks to great shooting, making 55 percent of the shots from the field and from deep.
— Brandon Tomyoy
Tweet(s) Of The Game
What a time to be alive. pic.twitter.com/4aFXYdss5e
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 1, 2016
Kawhi and Austin Rivers now have the same career high, thus invalidating all statistics
— Frank Madden (@brewhoop) April 1, 2016
Austin Rivers has hit 11 of his last 13 treys, spiking his 3pt% from 29% to 33.3% in a matter of 4 days.
— Dave aka illastrate (@illastrate) April 1, 2016
Lawler's Law (first team to 100 wins) was true in 5 of 6 games tonight, with the Clippers being the only exception. pic.twitter.com/uTsCQDvJMn
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 1, 2016
Check Your Messages
Closing Statement
*approaches podium*
*shuffles note cards*
*taps mic*
*deep breath*
AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *gasp* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I don’t understand anything right now.
The Clippers, down 4 starters, ran the Oklahoma City Thunder to the final possession for a combined total of 236 points. Austin Rivers scored 32 points…?
On… Wait, is this right? 7 of 9 from three? Shut up. Really?? …well, OK then.
What is the takeaway of this game? Who knows? Maybe that the Clippers and Thunder conspired together to pull off the greatest early April Fool’s day practical joke of all time.
*tosses notes in the air, drops the mic, and moonwalks off stage to Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, because why not – nothing makes sense anymore.
-Aaron Williams
Misc.
The Clippers, down 4 starters, put up 117 points. Austin Rivers made 6 consecutive three’s at one point. Russell Westbrook blew a breakaway dunk. The combination of Rivers & Jamal Crawford was good for 64 points. The Clippers outshot the Thunder 55-percent to 51-percent on 11 fewer FG attempts. Lawler’s Law was defeated – yet remained true in the other 5 games on tonight’s schedule.
File this one under miscellaneous. Or weird.
-Kaveh Jam
Wow what a game by A Rivers. Well except the last play.
This can either go 2 ways. 1 he suddenly becomes a better player hitting 40%+ 3pt and a pretty decent bench player, or 2 gets a boost of confidence and starts chucking up 3s like Steph Curry.
I’m afraid of the false confidence right before the playoffs. But then again what can it hurt, the Clippers have the same team as last year.
Yes, that was really something.
Now it’s starting to look like the Clippers won’t play Memphis in the first round. Memphis is only a game up on Portland with 6 to go, and Memphis has a tougher schedule. Theoretically Dallas, Utah and Houston could even end up in the 5 spot. All four teams chasing Memphis have easier schedules than Memphis. Maybe one of them will get hot while the others tread water or sink. It’s still interesting to follow.
Yeah, I was really hoping the Clippers would play Memphis just for the ex-clippers to face their old team.
Weren’t you two clowns saying Memphis was going to catch the Clips last week?
Wow, with such expert and nuanced NBA knowledge how did either one of you guys get that one wrong. It’s probably the first time you guys have ever been wrong.
Never said that. I think everyone agrees Memphis is the easiest playoff matchup because they don’t have Marc Gasol. I think it would be funny if the Clippers would lose to them with all the ex-clippers on the roster. Possibly might have said, how many games back Memphis is but never predicted the Memphis would get the 3 spot.
Weren’t you two clowns saying Memphis was going to catch the Clippers last week?
Wow, with such expert and nuanced NBA knowledge how did either one of you guys get that one wrong. It’s probably the first time you guys have ever been wrong.