The Clippers get back 17 lengths lead in the fourth period, but find a providential tying basket with Nicolas Batum’s buzzer beater after a mistake by Paul George and win in overtime at Madison Square Garden. For the Clippers it is the seventh victory in the last nine, avoiding suffering another sensational comeback after the one already remedied in Milwaukee two days ago. The 21-6 run with which he had overturned the game in the final of regulation was not enough for the Knicks.
The protagonist of overtime is certainly Kawhi Leonard, who scores eight free throws in the five overtime minutes finishing with a perfect 12/12 for 35 final points. Paul George adds 30 with 8 rebounds and 5 assists, while off the bench Norman Powell adds a 24-point performance to his Sixth Man of the Year nomination. “I would have liked to close it sooner, but we took a victory with the attributes” the words of coach Lue.
After a match missed due to illness, Jalen Brunson found his place in the starting lineup and his scoring streak, finishing with 41 points, missing only five of the 19 shots attempted (5/7 from long range), accompanied by 28 with 11 rebounds and 7 assists from All-Star Julius Randle, RJ Barrett’s 14 (only 6/21 shooting) and Quentin Grimes’ 13. The latter had given the Knicks the first lead of the game with 52 seconds left, but in overtime the first four points scored by the Clippers effectively closed the accounts.