INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Vit Krejci legacy game.
The 25-year-old Czech guard notched a career-high 28 points off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks, who handed the Los Angeles Clippers their fifth straight loss in a 105-102 result. Defending the 3-point shot has been a challenge for LA to start the year, and it had no answer against Krejci’s deep looks, as he shot 8-for-10 from beyond the arc.
The Clippers improved from the 3-point line themselves, shooting 43.9% themselves, but missed the big chances. A logo shot from James Harden with 10 seconds left in the game had fans wondering if he forgot to check the clock — and Nicolas Batum lost handle of the Clippers’ final possession, with a chance to tie the game with a triple — effectively squandering tangible opportunities.
Despite the late blunder, Harden’s performance shouldn’t be ignored. His seventh triple-double as a Clipper included 35 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, tying him for the most triple-doubles in franchise history.
LA rolled with a new starting lineup, as Bradley Beal was ruled out with a hip injury. John Collins replaced him, thinning out the bench’s depth even more. The Clippers led by 17 points at one point, but slowed down after a strong first quarter — a theme that has surfaced on multiple occasions this season.
The Clippers will take on the Denver Nuggets next at Intuit Dome on Wednesday. Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner reported from Inglewood and analyzed it on Unclipped, TOT’s Clippers podcast.