Clippers Knock Off Lakers On Easter Sunday

Whether or not the Clippers had home-court advantage on Sunday didn’t matter as the team throttled the Lakers 106-78. In a game long decided by the fourth quarter, the Clippers showed that the Lakers may always be the team of yesterday but left no doubt that they are the kings of the here and now, at one point creating a 43 point deficit. Last season the Clippers handed the Lakers their worse loss in franchise history by 48 points.

“The Clippers are running the Lakers out of their own town.”

Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 18 points and DeAndre Jordan added a double-double with 16 points (with eight dunks) and 11 rebounds. Chris Paul provided 15 assists and former Laker Matt Barnes dropped 14 on the purple and gold in a game that saw all five of the starters rest in the fourth quarter.

Griffin and Paul extended the margin to as much as 43 points in the third quarter before the least utilized players for both teams played the fourth. Wesley Johnson led the Lakers with 14 points while Tarik Black and Jabari Brown pitched in 10 points each.

Apr 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) shoots past Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The “LakeShow” in all of its facets was overtaken by “Lob-City”. Chris Paul made short work of Carlos Boozer in the third quarter, dribbling the ball through his legs en route to the basket on a break-away. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan took to the air for several dunks throughout the night.

Fan-favorite Nick Young could only keep his swag on the bench as he sat out once again with a knee injury that has more than likely ended his season. Laker legend Kobe Bryant was nowhere to be seen, leaving fans to wonder if perhaps the Black Mamba himself couldn’t stand to watch the devastation that would follow Sunday evening.

As has been the case between these two teams for the last two years, it a story of two powers going in vastly different directions. The 16-time champions are going into what is unusually becoming familiar territory for them: rebuilding. This summer will be a very important one of the Lakers as several marquee players are set to become free-agents. Most importantly, it would be a vital year if they are to build a team that would attract players such as LeBron James or Kevin Durant who would be un-restricted free-agents the following season.

The Clippers on the other hand have the potential to rise as high as the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The team has won three-straight since their loss to the Warriors last week and remain in the fifth seed. Although the Rockets won against the Thunder earlier Sunday, the Clippers remain in the race for second should Houston, Memphis, or Portland slip by a slight margin.

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The Clippers will be playing the Lakers once-again on Tuesday in what will be a “home” game for them on the Staples Center. The back-to-back comes at an interesting time as Blake Griffin’s comments that the Clippers do not have a home-court advantage may be tested. With the championship banners covered and the floor, host, and dancers in their favor, will the Clippers see a change in the fan support? Common sense would say no, the fans who were unable to make it to Sundays’ game to support the Lakers can simply come to Tuesdays’ game to do the same team. However those same fans will have seen Sundays’ game and are aware that the Clippers will be representing Los Angeles in the playoffs.

With only a few games remaining, the Clippers are showing that they are coming into form at the perfect time.

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The Winds of Change-Clippers Throttle Lakers on Easter Sunday

By Gabriel Gonzalez | Apr 6, 2015