Los Angeles Lakers again dropped below .500 following their 127-116 loss against the LA Clippers in the 2023-24 NBA regular season on Tuesday night. In the last minute of the first quarter, star guard Russell Westbrook, who joined the Clippers after his exit from the Lakers in February 2023, drained a vicious three-pointer without a shoe to help his side take a four-point lead against LeBron James-less Lakers.
The 2016-17 NBA MVP, Russell Westbrook, registered 16 points in 18 minutes, scoring 3-off-3 from the three-point shooting after coming off the bench in the Clippers' win against the Lakers. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Russ drilled a three-pointer without a shoe when the Clippers had a one-point lead.
Watch R uss' without shoe three-pointer here:
D'Angelo Russell blocks James Harden
The Lakers were trailing 9 points behind the Clippers at the end of the third quarter. With 7:40 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Clippers leading by four points, Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell blocked Clippers star guard James Harden's dunk attempt. On the other hand, small forward Taurean Prince scored a bucket to cut the Clippers' lead to two points.
Watch D'Angelo Russell's block on Harden here:
Clippers vs Lakers: Highlights
The two-time NBA champion, Kawhi Leonard recorded a triple-double against the Lakers with 25 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds followed by James Harden, who scored 23 points with 4-off-8 from the three and made 10 assists. Apart from them, Paul Geroge, Norman Powell, and Terence Mann scored 17 points each.
For the Lakers, D'Angelo Russell (27 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (26 points, 2 assists, and 12 rebounds) combined for 53 points. However, the Clippers with 59.1 % FG and 51.9% three-point shooting dominated the Lakers (48.9% FG and 34.4% threes) in the shooting.
In the Western Conference standings, the Clippers, who are currently on a three-game winning streak, are placed fourth with 28 wins in 42 matches, while the Lakers have managed the ninth spot with a 22-23 record.