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Russell Westbrook masked a rough 3-of-19 shooting night with an expert defensive display throughout, culminating in a clutch block-and-deflection to thwart Devin Booker down the stretch as the Los Angeles Clippers earned a frantic Game 1 victory away against Phoenix overnight. Kawhi Leonard led all players with 38 points, including 13 in the fourth – they needed every basket. Continue reading “Clippers 115-110 Suns: Westbrook’s clutch defence proves key as LA snatch Game 1”
Overnight, news emerged that the Dallas Mavericks agreed a trade package to acquire wantaway star guard Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, a few days after his trade request. Given their lofty ambitions to build a true championship contender around franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic, the effort is commendable but will this move age well in the long run? Continue reading “Worth the gamble? Dallas Mavericks’ trade for unsettled Irving raises big questions for both”
The February 9 trade deadline is just a week away, and Rui Hachimura’s surprise trade move to the LA Lakers last month – January 23 – hasn’t exactly caught fire as far as opening the floodgates for moves across the league. That much should change though before long, so here’s a round-up of the latest news and chatter, including the Clippers’ search for a guard. Continue reading “NBA: Clippers linked with VanVleet, Kings monitoring Thybulle, two teams want Olynyk reunion and more”
Per Marc Stein, Indiana Pacers’ center Myles Turner is leaving BDA Sports after a two-year stint with the agency and mooted to join CAA Sports for representation. Players changing agents isn’t always noteworthy news, but in this case for the 26-year-old on an expiring deal who always finds himself in trade speculation, this change suggests bigger dominos will soon fall. Continue reading “Indiana Pacers’ big man Myles Turner changes agents, as trade speculation intensifies”
If you’ve seen this Q&A style before, you know the drill. If not, where have you been? With a new NBA season already kicking off Tuesday night, I spoke to LA Clippers fan and NBA expert Jack Brown about many topics including: 2022-23 award predictions, more compelling offseason storylines, the newly-formed duos and why he fancies the bullish New Orleans Pelicans – armed with a motivated, injury-free Zion Williamson – as a serious dark horse out West this year. Continue reading “NBA Q&A: New storylines, burning questions and bold predictions made as 22-23 season tips off”
Despite being fully cleared to return, five-time All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard’s understandable caution surrounding his health after sustaining a partially torn ACL injury more than a year ago now remains one significant question mark continuing to impact the LA Clippers as they prepare for a campaign hopeful their key players will finally remain injury-free.
Continue reading “Kawhi Leonard’s caution tops Clippers’ agenda as they target injury-free upcoming campaign”
Bradley Beal became the 10th player in league history to receive a no-trade clause as part of his five-year, $251m max contract extension with the Wizards. Ten days later, another All-Star – Portland’s franchise star Damian Lillard – inked a two-year, $121m max vet deal to remain with the Trail Blazers, now under contract until the 2026-27 season. Will these decisions age well?
Continue reading “Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions”
A 12-game slate overnight kickstarts a manic week across the league, as teams and their star players look to solidify strong playoff seeding. Phoenix have long tied up top spot in the West, but what about the other contenders? In a rapidly-changing East, which of the top four teams will ultimately rule the roost? Which teams will avoid the play-in, going straight to the playoffs?
Continue reading “NBA: Storylines intensify as playoff permutations remain for multiple teams in final week”
During Monday’s NBA Finals media conference, the Phoenix Suns’ star shooting guard was bullish when asked about what many believe has been a fortunate run to the league’s showpiece event – profiting against three Western Conference teams suffering pivotal injuries.
Continue reading “Devin Booker unapologetic on criticism of Suns’ injury-impacted NBA Finals run”
Devin Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists as the All-Star guard seized the initiative and lead by example in Chris Paul’s absence to record his first career triple-double, earning a hard-fought 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers – who had big games from Paul George and Reggie Jackson, but eventually ran out of shooting steam down the stretch. Continue reading “Phoenix Suns 120-114 LA Clippers: Booker brilliance helps hosts gladly snatch Game 1”
Having raced to a 2-0 series lead, Utah Jazz’s All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell was heartbroken after falling to the LA Clippers in Game 6 on Friday night – another preventable second-round playoff exit, compounded by Kawhi Leonard’s absence through a knee injury.
Continue reading “Donovan Mitchell: Game 6 loss to Clippers will eat at me for a long time”
After finding themselves down 0-2 earlier in the series against a determined Dallas Mavericks display, the LA Clippers have an opportunity to atone for last season’s Game 7 woes this weekend. They have Kawhi Leonard to thank, but the job isn’t over yet.
Continue reading “Kawhi Leonard delivers in the clutch again, as LA Clippers handed Game 7 lifeline”
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