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SACRAMENTO — The Clippers remain undefeated on the road as the knockoff the Sacremento Kings 107-98 on Friday night. Kevin Porter Jr. scored nine points in the fourth and Los Angeles withstood a late push by the Kings to pick up the win. The Clippers improve to 5-4 and Los Angeles have made it three-straight victories.
Here are some takeaways from the Clippers win over the Kings:
Powell shows who’s king
Norman Powell has been a revelation for this Clippers team so far this year.
Powell has taken his game to the next level and tonight’s performance supports that.
Powell led all scorers with 31 points and added a career-high 12 rebounds. This was Powell’s first double-double of the season.
Powell's 12 rebounds eclipsed his previous career-best of 11, which came with Toronto against Oklahoma City on March 22, 2019, in a game he finished scoreless.
This game is Powell’s 8th consecutive game scoring 20+. Only the Celtics Jayson Tatum has more 20-point games. With his averages so far only he and the Suns, Kevin Durant, is averaging 25+ points with a 65%+ shooting average. He also joins the Nuggest, Nikola Jokic, with averaging 25 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 45% from three.
The former Bruin is showing that he can score at an all time high clip, be a playmaker and even rebound for a Clippers team who is playing solid basketball.
He is the MVP for the Clippers to start the year.
Defense, Defense, Defense
A James Harden-led team has never been known for its defense until this Clippers team.
The Clippers shined on that side of the floor tonight shutting down the Kings to just 98 points.
It is the third time in the last four games that Los Angeles has allowed less than 100 points.
There hounding defense on the perimeter led to the Kings shooting just 3-26 from three.
Los Angeles was able to slow down the Kings’ “others” as their top four guys weren’t enough.
The Clippers are ranked in the top five when it comes to defensive rating and those numbers are improving each game.
That’s right, we are saying Harden on a team that some around the league are calling the best defense and performances like tonight prove that.
Clippers stay undefeated on the road
The Clippers have had their struggles at home this year but when it comes to road game, they are unbeaten.
With tonight’s win, Los Angeles is now 3-0 on the road with impressive wins over the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets and now the Kings.
Three teams that have combined to go 18-9.
The Clippers travel back home for a Saturday night matchup with the Toronto Raptors then hit the road for a three-game trip to prove they are true road warriors.
Los Angeles will play the Oklahoma City Thunder and two matchups with the Houston Rockets.