Sacramento, CA-The Sacramento Kings are a relatively young team. They’re talented. They’re scrappy. They battle and compete. Their record in the Western Conference is reflective Sacramento’s inexperience as a cohesive unit. But that did not stop the Kings from giving the much more ballyhooed Los Angeles Clippers a stern road test at Arco Arena.
The playoff-contending Clippers shook off any remaining effects of a tough defeat to arena and budding city rival Los Angeles Lakers to scrap their way to a 93-85 win against the Kings in Sacramento. Paced by Randy Foye’s game-high 20-points, the Clippers used the double-digit scoring of five players to offset its 45 percent field goal shooting (36 of 80) on the night.
“It wasn’t great basketball at times,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We did enough to win. I was pleased with different guys stepping up when we needed to.”
Besides Foye’s offensive showing, it was the play of forward Blake Griffin in the waning moments of the game that shifted the victory in the Clippers’ direction. Scoring just 14 points, Griffin didn’t have one of his routine eye-popping statistical game nights.
But what matters the most was how Griffin scored those points. With Los Angeles and Sacramento engaged in a see-saw battle late in the fourth-quarter, Griffin took the ball and the game into his own hands, scoring several key baskets down the stretch to preserve the Clippers’ seventh win in eight games.
Though Griffin’s usual high-flying act was somewhat grounded by the Kings’ defense, he showed why he is an All-Star, and a lot more than just a dunking machine. Clippers point guard Chris Paul said Griffin’s shots were big-time.
“They were huge,” Paul said. “They were huge. One of the first ones he hit, I think, tied it up. The he gave us one that put us up one. Then, he hit another one to put us up three. That’s why he is who he is.”
After absorbing that stinging loss to the Lakers, Paul said all of the remaining games on the regular season count.
“Going down the stretch, we need every one that we can get,” Paul said. “Every one of (them) matter. These (games) are very important now because it’s all about positioning. A few losses here and there could really hurt you in the standings, so we got to win.”
Griffin scored six of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. All three of the shots Griffin made in the period came at the most crucial point in the game.
“I got the ball in good spots and I was wide open,” Griffin said. I knocked down the shots. That’s what we’ve got to do. That’s what my teammates have done all season long. It’s everybody’s job to contribute. I was just trying to contribute.”
Like Paul, Griffin recognizes how important it is for the Clippers to win out their remaining games on their schedule.”
“All of these games for us are like playoff games because we’re jockeying for position,” Griffin said. “It’s a great win. It’s off the back-to-back, and we’re on the road after an emotional game last night.”
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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