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NBA Wrap: Clippers 50 point halftime massacre; ‘Wild’ NBA madness

The NBA has had one of the craziest days in memory, including an all-time beat down that had fans roasting one of the league’s best teams.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
2 min read
December 28, 2020 - 6:22PM
Stunning day in the NBA.
Stunning day in the NBA.

A bonkers day of NBA action has been highlighted by one of the biggest beat downs in NBA history.

Last start the LA Clippers lost Kawhi Leonard late in the game after he was taken down by friendly fire as he turned into a teammate’s elbow while he was going up for a rebound.

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While Leonard’s omission always leaves a hole for the Clippers, no one in the NBA could have expected what would happen in the match against the previously winless Dallas Mavericks.

The Clippers had been on cruise control to start the season with two commanding wins but the side set an unwanted shot-clock era record when the side went down by 50-points at halftime.

It beat the previous mark of 47 points when the Golden State Warriors led the Sacramento Kings on November 2, 1991.

And the shot-clock era started in 1954.

Reggie Jackson tries his best for the Clippers.
Reggie Jackson tries his best for the Clippers.

It didn’t get any better with the Clippers losing by 51 in the end — a 124-73 thrashing that left the NBA stunned.

For one of the competition’s favourites with Paul George still playing, it was a stunning wake up call.

None of the Mavericks blew the Clippers away either with Luka Doncic getting 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and was ably supported by Josh Richardson’s 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 18 points.

“This was obviously our best performance of all the games, pre-season and regular season,” Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said. “We had some uneven effort in the first couple of games. Guys were aware of it. They knew the caliber of our opposition today and they just decided that they were going to be the hardest-playing team in the gym.”

Social media were blown away by the result.

“I think a couple of turnovers early, we missed some shots, they got out and transitioned us early,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue said. “They had a lot of pop tonight.”

“I think we throw it away, just get back to what has been working,” he continued. “It’s just an exception. It doesn’t take away from what we’ve been working on.”

Not the game billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will want to remember.
Not the game billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will want to remember.

‘WILD’ NBA DAY STUNS FANS

It wasn’t the only result to leave fans gobsmacked with several major results throughout the day.

The Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers went down to the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-94.

Embiid was out with a back injury with Andre Drummond leading the way with 24 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in a powerhouse game.

Aussie Ben Simmons struggled without his big man, unable to match his heroics against the Knicks with a 15 point, six rebound and four assist game, along with two steals and two blocks.

The Brooklyn Nets were also beaten by the Charlotte Hornets 106-104 despite both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the line-up.

The Nets copped an L.
The Nets copped an L.

Gordon Hayward le the way for the Hornets with 28 points with strong assistance with five other players scoring more than 10 points.

And the Milwaukee Bucks were soundly beaten by the New York Knicks 130-110 in a massive boilover as the Bucks fall to 1-3 and the Knicks are 2-2 to start the season.

Social media was blown away by the result.

Originally published as NBA Wrap: Clippers 50 point halftime massacre; ‘Wild’ NBA madness

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