LOS ANGELES — The abyss beckoned, the Clippers’ grasp slowly slipping, the game sinking into the void where wins go to die.
It seemed impossible they could lose this game. They were on their way to their highest point total of the season. The oft-passive Nicolas Batum had just delivered arguably the most improbable 30-point half in NBA history, bewildering the crowd at Crypto.com Arena with a flurry of threes.
Yet, there the Indiana Pacers were, somehow withstanding the Clippers’ furious haymakers to pull to within three points with 31 seconds to play. One wrong move, and Los Angeles was looking at its third straight loss. It would be an upsetting precursor to a grueling eight-game road trip.
