Oceanside California- 

The Clippers entered Friday night at 1-1, after splitting their opening games in Stockton last week.

San Diego put together a late rally in the first game of the season to squeeze past defending G-League champion Stockton Kings. Stars TyTy Washington and Patrick Baldwin Jr. carried the Clippers with 20 and 19 points, respectively. In the second game of the trip, the Clippers surrendered their lead halfway through the fourth quarter and never regained it. In that game, Patrick Baldwin Jr. steadied the Clippers’ offense with 27 points. Yanic Konan Niederhauser chipped in 18 points on 75% shooting. The Clippers’ offense has not lacked scoring in their first two games, and continued tonight. 

In the match on Friday, the Salt Lake City Stars, the Clippers got back in the win column.

The Clippers started the game hot from the floor, shooting 53% out of the gate. It was Patrick Baldwin Jr. who got the team started on offense with seven of the team’s 14 points. The Stars held a three-point advantage at the media timeout, 17-14. For Salt Lake City, Max Abmas got going early, scoring 11 of the Stars’ 22 points. Patrick Baldwin Jr. had seven of the team’s first 14 points and was perfect from the floor to stay hot. While the scoring was there early for both teams, the referees blew the whistle often, with eight combined fouls in the first six minutes. The Clippers started a scorching 61.1% from the field in the first quarter. They allowed the Stars to start 47.6% shooting. San Diego led 36-34 at the end of one. 

The Clippers started strong in the second quarter and managed a six-point lead halfway through the quarter. Patrick Baldwin Jr. led the charge for the Clippers with 20 points in the first half as they led by two going into the break. Taylor Funk and Jason Preston added double-figure scoring. Max Abmas and Justin Harmon managed to have 14 and 11 points, respectively. Patrick Baldwin Jr. kept the Clippers’ two-point lead at the half with a buzzer-beating block. While the Clippers took multi-possession leads throughout the quarter, the Salt Lake City Stars hounded the glass and kept themselves in the game.

The second half was up and down for the Clippers. They got off to a hot start, thanks to Jahmyl Telfort’s eight quick points. The Clippers took a 10-point lead early in the third and lost it quickly. The Stars went on a 14-0 run through a chunk of the third quarter to take the lead. The Clippers managed to shoot their way out of the funk. Taylor Funk heated the Clippers’ offense to help them take an 88-81 lead at the end of three quarters.  

For the majority of the fourth quarter, the Clippers controlled the pacing and spacing of the game. They kept the Stars at arm’s length. The Stars fought back at the end of the game, but it was too little too late. Jason Preston, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Jahmyl Telfort, and Taylor Funk spearheaded the win for the Clippers. Jason Preston put together a near triple-double with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists. Funk helped the Clippers overcome a rough third quarter and Salt Lake City’s 14-0 run. He was named the Clippers’ player of the game.  

After the game, Coach Paul Hewitt said, “We did a good job getting out and contesting their first shot and then not letting (Oscar) Tshiebwe get the second shot.” Looking forward to Sunday, “offensively they found something at the end there … we just gotta handle their pressure better.” Clippers’ forwards Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Taylor Funk talked about the win.  “That’s a good win against a tough team,” Funk said. Baldwin Jr. added, “ Our guards, two guards on the floor, can slow it down… and keep us in rhythm.”  The Clippers held out for the 113-106 win. The Clippers will be back in action on Sunday, the 16th, when they go for the sweep against the Stars.

Max Montoya

A Southern California kid from San Clemente, he attended Gonzaga University and obtained a degree in sports management with minors in digital marketing and public relations. Max has been a San Diego sports fan for life.