Luke Kennard hits 2 clutch 3-pointers to finish the Clippers' amazing 35-point comeback win.
What looked like a sure win for the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night turned into a moment in NBA history.
The Clippers battled back from a 35-point deficit to earn a 116-115 win and stun the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.
Clippers guard Luke Kennard was the hero, scoring seven points inside the final 9 seconds. The capper in that run was a go-ahead four-point play with 1.9 seconds remaining to put LA up for good.
LUKE KENNARD'S 4-POINT PLAY COMPLETES THE @LAClippers 35-POINT COMEBACK WIN 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/DTgzet06GT
— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2022
Kennard hit a 32-footer out of a timeout and then, after Washington committed a 5-second violation, sank another 3 running to his right while absorbing a foul from Bradley Beal. He finished with 25 points off the bench.
The victory marks the largest comeback in Clippers history and ties for the second-largest in the play-by-play era (1996-97). The only game that featured a bigger comeback was when the Utah Jazz overcame a 36-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 107-103 on Nov. 27, 1996.
After the win, even Kennard himself was in a state of awe himself, posting on Twitter: “What just happened … crazy fight in this group. What a win! #ClipperNation”
What just happened… crazy fight in this group! What a win! #ClipperNation
— Luke Kennard (@LukeKennard5) January 26, 2022
The Clippers overcame a 35-point deficit Tuesday night against the Wizards. That is tied for the 2nd-largest in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97).
The Jazz overcame a 36-point deficit against the Nuggets in 1996. pic.twitter.com/0n2na9lopo
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 26, 2022
Cool off @LukeKennard5. ☔ pic.twitter.com/VxyxJdsMHF
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 26, 2022
The largest comeback in Clippers history is over. 35 points. They led for 1.9 seconds. pic.twitter.com/18Oh25uZ7z
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) January 26, 2022
Amir Coffey scored a career-high 29 points for the depleted Clippers, who evened their record to 2-2 at the midpoint of a season-long eight-game trip.
They became the first team to accomplish that feat in a single season since at least 1996-97. And all of those wins came after they lost seven-time All-Star guard Paul George to a right elbow injury in December.
“This January has been wild,” Coffey said. “You never know when the game’s over. Just play through the buzzer.”
Game Recap: Clippers 116, Wizards 115
LA gradually cut into the lead in the third quarter, got it to single digits with a 15-1 run that stretched into the fourth, got to within two inside the final three minutes, and then closed the game on an 11-2 run.
The Wizards contributed to the cause with seven fourth-quarter turnovers, including five inside the final six minutes.
On the last, Washington failed to inbound the ball in time with 8.2 seconds to play, setting up Kennard’s heroics.
Clippers fight until the end. 📈 pic.twitter.com/nilPQ4cMtj
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 26, 2022
Luke Kennard, rubbing his eyes, said the team’s previous comeback gave them confidence they could do this “little by little.” pic.twitter.com/EvjvBdmVsE
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) January 26, 2022
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
