On Opening Night, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-103 behind an improbably awesome performance from their bench. But in the two meetings since, the Clippers have thoroughly destroyed the Lakers, including a 142-94 beat down at the Staples Center on Thursday night.
This is how badly the Clippers beat the Lakers
The last time the Clippers played the Lakers, they won by 36. It was even worse this time around.
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
The Clippers set numerous records in the win, with the 48-point margin of victory being the largest in franchise history. It's a record that has actually been broken three different times this season. The Clippers initially set the record on Nov. 24 in a 39-point defeat of the Chicago Bulls, and that was then broken on Feb. 9 in a 45-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers before being broken once again on Thursday.
The big win also marked the second straight game the Clippers set the series record for margin of victory. In the last game between the two teams on Jan. 10, the Clippers beat the Lakers 123-87, meaning the Clippers have won the last two games by a combined total of 84 points. The 48-point margin of defeat on Thursday was the worst in Lakers history.
Unlike the last meeting, the game was actually close after the first quarter, with the Clippers leading by just two. But everything went haywire in the second quarter. The Clippers outscored the Lakers 44-13 in the second, giving them a 73-40 lead at halftime. The 31-point advantage in the second quarter matched the second-most lopsided quarter in franchise history.
The Clippers continued their destruction in the third quarter, and the score was a ridiculous 109-60 heading into the final frame. The Lakers were able to get some buckets in the fourth quarter in order to avoid losing by 50, but really, there are no silver linings in a 48-point loss. Well, unless you’re Kobe Bryant, who apparently will use it as motivation or something:
Misery = Motivation #thanku #urwelcome
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 7, 2014 However, I don’t think those words will be of any solace to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak right now (second GIF via @cjzero):
Cheer up Mitch, you’re only paying Kobe nearly $50 million over the next two years.
Eric Patten of Clippers.com had a list of some other fun records, near-records and statistical factoids from the game. For example, Blake Griffin's 20 points marked the 21st straight game he reached 20 points, extending his team record. DeAndre Jordan notched his career-best 32nd straight double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Matt Barnes also recorded a double-double, and it was the first time in Barnes' career he had a game where he reached at least 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Here’s the entire game basically summed up in one sequence:
At this point, the Lakers just need to be banned from national television already. The Clippers, however, can stay.
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