You’re going to go a long time before you find a better basketball game this season than the one the Kings and Clippers played on Friday night.
This was absolutely the best basketball game of the year and it will probably remain that throughout the rest of the season — playoffs included. It’s absolutely nuts how wild this game got.
The Kings won outright, 176-175. And, yes, that score is wild. But it doesn’t even begin to paint the picture of how crazy this game got.
I know most of you missed this because, well, you have a life. The game didn’t end until about 1:30 a.m. on the East Coast. Y’all had Saturday plans, obviously.
But yerboi watched the whole thing to hold it down for you. Let’s just come through a few stats to show you exactly how wild this thing got.
The Kings actually staged 3 separate comebacks
Somehow, the Kings were down in all three periods they played — regulation, overtime and double overtime. They even fell down by double-digits at one point in regulation.
To beat the Clippers, 176-175, the Kings came back from:
– 14 points with 4 minutes left in regulation
– 6 points with 3 minutes left in OT
– 6 points with 1:50 left in 2OT— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 25, 2023
Y’all. That’s crazy. But it’s even crazier when you realize Kawhi Leonard was hitting stuff like this.
Kawhi stepback three over two defenders 🤧
UNFAIR. pic.twitter.com/VE6XQmjCkF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 25, 2023
Just unreal.
There were also 3 40-point scorers
The Kings won because they had two of them. De’Aaron Fox dropped 42 points and made play after play in the clutch. Malik Monk had 45 points…off of the bench. Need I say more?
Kawhi poured in 44 himself. Paul George was also 6 points away from 40.
WHAT A GAME‼️
■ Second highest scoring game in NBA history
■ Second time in NBA history both teams scored 170+
■ Tied most 3PM in a game in NBA historyMonk: 45 PTS
Fox: 42 PTS
Kawhi: 44 PTS
PG: 34 PTS pic.twitter.com/xze8N65GSh— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2023
Yes, the defense was certainly lacking in this game.
This was the second-highest scoring NBA game ever
The only game better was a triple-OT outing between the Nuggets and Pistons in December.
These two squads combined for 351 points and tied the record for most 3-point makes in a game in league history. Just unreal stuff.
While you were sleeping, the Kings-Clippers put on a SHOW 🍿🤩
▫️ Combined 351 PTS
▫️ 2nd time in NBA history both teams scored 170+
▫️ Tied most 3PM in a game in NBA history5th game in NBA history w/ at least 3 40-pt scorers:
▫️ Monk: 45 PTS
▫️ Leonard: 44 PTS
▫️ Fox: 42 PTS pic.twitter.com/oDwKYx1tG0— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 25, 2023
Oh, and Russell Westbrook also made his debut as a Clipper. I forgot to add that. The Kings didn’t care, though.
Kings asked about Russell Westbrook joining Clippers
De’Aaron Fox: “I don’t give a f—- who’s over there.”
Malik Monk: “We ain’t worried about them. … We here.” pic.twitter.com/xUwYhinT9f— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 25, 2023
Whew.
And, just so you have it...
Here’s every bucket made in the clutch that made this game so special.
GAME OF THE YEAR CONTENDER.
Re-live every WILD moment from down the stretch of the 2nd highest scoring game in NBA history 🎬
Kings outlast the Clippers in 2OT, 176-175. pic.twitter.com/MiU7A8lViT
— NBA (@NBA) February 25, 2023
De’Aaron Fox is definitely taking home that clutch player of the year award.
Fans thought this was the game of the year
And, honestly, it’s hard to argue against it.
.@ESPNNBA lost for not having #Kings–#Clippers tonight. Game of the year vibes. #NBA https://t.co/ikiHnSE2Ft
— Faisal Hassan (@Faazzla) February 25, 2023
Kings 153, Clippers 153… going to overtime.
Game of the year.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 25, 2023
The Sacramento Kings defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 176-175 in the game of the year.
— Guru (@DrGuru_) February 25, 2023
Regardless of the outcome, Kings vs. Clippers is Game of the Year thus far.
A Hardwood Classic.
— Frankie Cartoscelli (@FCartoscelli3) February 25, 2023
God bless the Clippers and Kings for giving us the best game of the year and one of the best games of all time! As fans of the NBA, this is all that we want! We want competitive ball!
— Randall Barnes (@AuthorRandallB) February 25, 2023
That Clippers Kings game was something else man. Most entertaining game of the year. The Kings would not give up. The Clippers made enough errors that let the game stay close. Would not mind seeing a full playoff series between those two. Fox is relentless. Kawhi looks healthy.
— José Contreras (@LosPonies) February 25, 2023
Light the beam, though. The Kings are so fun, man.
Kings fans chant “Light the Beam” after beating the Clippers, 176-175, in double overtime in the second highest scoring game in NBA history pic.twitter.com/KjcDkYUEVj
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 25, 2023
More of this, please, NBA.
