Crickex Sign Up brings you the latest from the NBA’s heated Christmas Day clash, where the Lakers made a dramatic push but ultimately fell short in a 94-84 loss to the Clippers. Despite a furious 25-4 run in the fourth quarter, the Lakers dropped their eighth straight Los Angeles derby, while the Clippers snapped a three-game losing streak. In what marked Kobe Bryant’s 16th and final Christmas Day appearance, the torch appeared to pass—quietly but surely—to Chris Paul.
Kobe, playing his last holiday game, finished with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting. Though the two teams share the same city, neither is a title contender this season, giving the Staples Center a surprisingly relaxed and festive atmosphere. Before tipoff, Kobe exchanged warm greetings with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. But once the game began, the farewell magic struggled to manifest. Kobe missed his first few shots, ending the first quarter scoreless. Roy Hibbert was a rare bright spot early, scoring 8 points on perfect shooting, but the Clippers’ trio of Paul, Griffin, and Redick came out firing, quickly building a double-digit lead.
A comic moment came courtesy of Lakers rookie Larry Nance Jr., who committed an awkward blunder late in the first quarter. Still, D’Angelo Russell kept hope alive with a quick burst of 7 points, trimming the gap to 10. In the second quarter, the Clippers’ bench slowed down while Jamal Crawford did most of the scoring. Russell stayed hot with a three-pointer and a mid-range jumper, bringing his tally to 12. Once the Clippers’ starters returned, however, Paul resumed control—scoring and dishing assists to push the lead back to 17. Kobe responded with two quick threes in under 30 seconds, giving the Lakers a slight lift, but their offense remained inconsistent.
Luc Mbah a Moute hit a three to give the Clippers a 60-44 cushion at halftime. Early in the third, Kobe knocked down another triple, but that spark faded fast. The Lakers couldn’t score for nearly four minutes, while the Clippers took full advantage—highlighted by alley-oops from DeAndre Jordan and more threes from the perimeter. Kobe managed to spark a mini-run with a few assists, but when he sat late in the third, the Lakers’ offense collapsed. The Clippers answered with a ruthless 14-0 surge, ending the quarter up 85-57.
The fourth quarter, however, turned the game into a thriller. Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell led a stunning 25-4 blitz that cut the deficit to just 7, forcing the Clippers to put their starters back on the floor. In crunch time, Blake Griffin assisted a corner three, and Chris Paul hit a mid-range jumper that sealed the game with a 10-point cushion. Despite the Lakers’ late rally, the Clippers held firm to win the city’s bragging rights.
Crickex Sign Up continues to follow all the NBA action as new stars rise and legends take their final bows. In Los Angeles, one era ends and another begins—long live the new king.