A three-game losing streak. A last-minute return of LeBron James. A removal from national television. Those three ingredients, mixed with a large dose of stagnant offense which was on display in recent losses, seemed to be a recipe for disaster for the Clippers approaching the 2021-22 campaign’s first Battle of LA showdown. However, they successfully fended off the Lakers in a clutch 119-115 win.
To start the game, Serge Ibaka was inserted in the lineup in place of Eric Bledsoe, possibly to match up with the rebounding capabilities of Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard.