CaliSports News

Clippers Can’t Claw All The Way Back In 113-107 Loss

Clippers

After a tight 112-106 win in Minnesota Sunday, the Timberwolves came out to Staples Center to take on the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The Wolves had a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday to split their matchups with the Clippers up. Los Angeles however has been able to take a much needed rest since Sunday and the time to sit paid off as starting forward Danilo Gallinari returned from his glute injury to play in his first game since November 5th.

With all the injuries sustained by the Clippers so far this season the return of Gallinari was a much anticipated one for fans. Doc Rivers on the other hand tapered his expectations and understood they needed to bring him along slowly. Going just 2-13 from the field in 26 minutes of action that approach from Rivers was certainly a more realistic one.

The return of Gallinari was a welcome sight for the team’s future, but it was the return of an ex-Clipper that had fans flashing back to what used to be. Jamal Crawford returned to Staples Center for his first matchup against his former squad since leaving last summer via a trade. Crawford was welcomed back with a standing ovation and a tribute video worthy of his two sixth man of the year awards he won while playing in the red, white and blue.

Crawford finished his night with 11 points in that sixth man role he’s thrived in his whole career.

Clippers current sixth man Lou Williams wasn’t going to be outdone by his predecessor. Williams caught fire in the second half leading the charge and helping Los Angeles trim the Minnesota lead that was up above 15 numerous times on the night to just 3. Williams led the game in scoring with 23 points off the bench, getting 18 of them in the second half alone while also helping by distributing the ball with 8 assists.

If the Clippers were going to keep this a close game throughout they needed strong performances from the star they do have healthy DeAndre Jordan. After a slow start Jordan was able to garner some momentum in a way only he can.

Jordan used his thunderous slams to produce a fantastic night both in the scoring column and on the glass with 18 points and 21 rebounds giving him yet another double-double.

With the game on the line late that 3 points deficit would be as close as the Clippers would get. Minnesota was able to pull away as time dwindled down and they would seal it with a late run, giving them a 113-107 victory.

A tough loss for a Clippers team that played pretty well on the night but they just went up against a Wolves team that simply is more talented than them. With nobody to stop the late heroics of Jimmy Butler it seemed as if they just lacked the ability to close the gap.

It won’t get much easier for Los Angeles as they have another likely playoff bound foe coming up next on Saturday in the Washington Wizards.

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