DENVER —
Norman Powell grabbed his bag and positioned it over his shoulder, a smile on his face, his large night time a major cause why the Clippers had defeated the Denver Nuggets.
As he started to stroll away, Powell turned again to the media, saying he remembered when he performed Portland for the primary time since being traded to L.A., a sport by which he scored 22 factors within the fourth, a profession finest for 1 / 4.
He did it once more Saturday night time. When requested about it, Powell mentioned he was unaware.
“I guess,” Powell mentioned. “Ya’ll got to tell me.”
He laughed.
It was an evening of nights for Powell. His team-high 37 factors have been probably the most he has scored with the Clippers.
“Just staying in the moment, being aggressive, man,” Powell mentioned. “We didn’t want to lose. So, whatever that looked like, being aggressive on the attacks, on my shots, on my reads, whatever it was, doing whatever it took to help us get a win. That was my main focus — make an impact and make plays.”
Powell did so in the best method. He was eight for 9 from the sphere within the fourth quarter, making all 4 pictures from three-point vary. His final three tied the sport with 53 seconds left.
For the sport, he was 14 for 21 from the sphere and 7 for 11 from three-point vary.
At what level, Powell was requested, did he know he had it going?
“I was making shots,” he mentioned. “So, you know you are going well when you are making shots. But I wasn’t thinking about it. I was just focusing on what the next play was, what the next read was and really just staying in the moment. I don’t think about how much I’m scoring or what’s going on, missed shots, made shots, good games, bad games. The focus is to stay even, stay even-keel, stay balanced and focus on what I got to do to help this team win.”
When the Clippers opened coaching camp, Powell mentioned his aim was to be a starter. He had been an excellent sixth man for the Clippers however he was on the lookout for extra. And Saturday night time, Powell confirmed his price as a starter.
“It just shows the work, the commitment to getting better, the commitment to myself and the belief in myself, belief in the coaches and the organization having me step into the role,” Powell mentioned. “But it’s what I expect of myself every night. It’s what I work for. I’ve been ready for this.”
Listed below are two extra takeaways from the Clippers’ 109-104 win:
Harden finishes sturdy
Clippers guard James Harden, driving to the basket towards Nuggets guard Christian Braun, had eight of his 23 factors and three of his 16 assists down the stretch of the fourth quarter Saturday.
(Jack Dempsey / Related Press)
As James Harden sat on the bench within the fourth quarter, watching his group teeter, he would lean ahead and have a look at the teaching workers. When the Clippers bought down by 4 factors, James entered with 7:06 remaining. He took the controls and guided his group to the end line.
Harden was six for six from the free-throw line, had three assists and eight factors in his remaining shift. He completed with 23 factors and 16 assists.
“I always want to play. I don’t remember that moment, but I always want to play,” he mentioned. “I just love to hoop, I love to compete, I love to play the game of basketball at the highest level. You know what I mean?
“So, the NBA season is back. We got Game 2 on the road, against one of the best teams we have in this entire league. … The guys did a really good job of just maintaining their composure and finishing the game.”
Harden missed certainly one of two free throws that would have tied Wednesday’s season opener towards the Phoenix Suns in time beyond regulation. He didn’t falter this time.
Harden’s two free throws with 30.5 seconds left gave the Clippers a two-point lead and his two free throws with 14.3 seconds left gave them a three-point lead.
“Just making them,” Harden mentioned.
Zubac has sturdy sport
He shook his head a number of occasions and laughed, in all probability as a result of that’s all Clippers middle Ivica Zubac might do when requested what it was like competing towards Nikola Jokic, Denver’s otherworldly middle.
Jokic had 41 factors. He was seven for 12 from three-point vary.
Jokic was all the pieces Zubac and the Clippers anticipated from the NBA’s three-time Most worthy participant.
“He’s got so much to his game,” Zubac mentioned. “He’s just tough. There’s so much stuff they can throw out there, so many different plays for him in so many different spots. You’ve got to be ready for anything.”
Zubac, nevertheless, was a power in his personal proper. He produced a double-double with 24 factors and 15 rebounds.
With Kawhi Leonard out due to irritation in his proper knee, Zubac is aware of there’s a void to be crammed.
“That’s gonna be one of the things this season, just being more aggressive on offense,” Zubac mentioned. “We need it, especially now with Kawhi out. We’re gonna need everybody to be more aggressive on offense, take their shots.”
It marked the primary time in his nine-year profession he has scored 20-plus factors in back-to-back video games. Zubac had 21 factors within the Clippers’ loss to the Suns.
“Just play the game,” Zubac mentioned. “I think now I’m gonna get the looks, touches, and we’re gonna run some plays for me, guys are looking for me. I’ll be out there for a lot of minutes, so not force anything. Just let the game come to me, play in the flow of the game and whatever it is.
“Some nights, it might not be 20. Some nights it might be less, but just play in the flow of the game. Make the right play, make the right reads. Sometimes it might be 20, sometimes it might be eight, 12, whatever it is. Just play the right way.”
