LUKE Kennard converted a four-point play with 1.9 seconds to play as the visiting Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 35-point deficit to post a 116-115 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila).
The result tied the second-largest comeback in NBA history, when the Sacramento Kings escaped a 35-point hole against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 21, 2009. The record was the Utah Jazz overturning a 36-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 27, 1996.
The Wizards held a 115-109 lead with 11.2 seconds remaining before Kennard halved the deficit with a 3-pointer. Washington’s Kyle Kuzma was whistled for a five-second inbound violation, and Kennard a 3-pointer while being fouled by Bradley Beal. Kennard sank the ensuing foul shot to give Los Angeles its first lead of the game and the improbable victory.
Amir Coffey scored 29 points and Kennard finished with 25 off the bench as the Clippers improved to 2-2 on their eight-game road trip. Beal collected 23 points and nine rebounds and Kuzma added 19 and 12, respectively, for the Wizards, who took their fourth straight loss.
In other games, it was the Lakers 106, Nets 96; Celtics 128, Kings 75; Warriors 130, Mavs 92; Sixers 117, Pelicans 107; Wolves 109, Blazers 107; Nuggets 110, Pistons 105; Raptors 125, Hornets 113; and Spurs 134, Rockets 104.
Lakers 106, Nets 96
LeBron James totaled 33 points, seven rebounds and six assists as Los Angeles led most of the way and recorded a win over Brooklyn in New York.
The Lakers led for the final 37:45, improved to 2-1 on their six-game road trip and welcomed Anthony Davis back after the center missed 17 games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He finished with eight points in 25 minutes. The Lakers had gone 7-10 without him.
James Harden notched a triple-double of 33 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, but it was not nearly enough as the Nets dropped to 2-3 since losing Kevin Durant to a sprained left knee on Jan. 15. — Field Level Media
