Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Clippers 11/29/16 ScoreHoly cow! What a game! #BrooklynGrit is back, baby! The Brooklyn Nets were trailing by twenty points to the Los Angeles Clippers late in the third quarter. Brooklyn, led by Sean Kilpatrick and some clutch Brook Lopez three balls, came back to win the game in double overtime. This win ends the losing skid at seven games. Ironically enough, the losing streak also started here with the Clippers.
Sean Kilpatrick set a career high in points and rebounds. Skilpatrick scored 38 points, 31 of which came after the third quarter, and brought down 14 rebounds. Next in line was Brook Lopez with 27 points.
Leading the Clippers was none other than Chris Paul. Paul notched a triple-double on the night with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists. The Clippers were without Blake Griffin tonight much like how Brooklyn was without Brook Lopez last time these two teams faced off.
Brooklyn still clearly needs Jeremy Lin as Isaiah Whitehead almost lost us the game down the stretch and only put up six points and four assists. The assists many can understand as he is not a true point guard. Only six points on 2-8 shooting, though, baffles some as he is a natural scorer.
Regardless of individual statistics, this was a team effort. Doc Rivers got ejected, the Clippers team was getting cocky, as seen with Chris Paul and Paul Pierce‘s CPR celebration. Brooklyn took advantage of LA’s complacence and capitalized.
Grading the Players
Sean Kilpatrick most obviously gets an A tonight. Without him, Brooklyn would have gotten dismantled by the Clippers yet again. Setting these career highs and carrying the team the way he did proves why he deserves to be in this league and why Sean Marks is such a genius to sign him before anyone else had the luxury to.
Trevor Booker also sneakily gets an A. His seventh double-double of the year helped keep Brooklyn in it. A sad, but true, fact…Booker led the team in assists. Booker dished out five assists to lead Brooklyn followed by four from Whitehead and Lopez. No one else had more than two. Man, Brooklyn needs Jeremy Lin back.
Brook Lopez gets a B. Lopez put up 27 points and 8 rebounds and played some solid defense. Not to mention he hit some clutch three-pointers. Lopez was surely missed the first time these two teams played, and his presence was much appreciated tonight.
Isaiah Whitehead gets a D. Whitehead shot 2-8 from the field totaling six points. Whitehead also dished out four assists. Fans understand Whitehead is not a true point guard, he is a shooting guard that can score a lot of points. So far this season, Whitehead cannot make a shit to save his life. Also, he has not been garnering up any assists. It is clear Whitehead is not comfortable at point guard, especially starting point guard. Maybe give Yogi Ferrell some more minutes?
Fans cannot get over this win. One of the NBA’s best teams, despite their losing streak, and some of the league’s best players and coaches. Coming back from over twenty down for most of the game to come back and fight and win is what this team is all about.
Now a quarter of the way to Las Vegas’ 20 win projection and a quarter of the way through the season, Brooklyn sits at 5-12. The Nets stay in Brooklyn to take on The Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night. The Clippers have now lost three straight and travel to Cleveland for a bout with King James and the Cavaliers Thursday.
Enjoy this win, get better Jeremy Lin, and lets beat the Bucks!