NBA Clippers vs. Lakers Christmas Night Picks & Predictions

However not even Santa might deliver in that gift, with the Clippers limping to a 94-84 win over the opposite L.A. team.

J.J. Redick had 14 points and DeAndre Jordan had nine points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers.

They dropped close games to two of the NBA’s elite – San Antonio and Oklahoma City – and also fell to underachieving Houston.

The Clippers grabbed a 60-44 lead at the half, outshooting the Lakers 51.1 percent to 41.7 percent. “I enjoy trying to play as much as I can”.

NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers believes Lakers F Kobe Bryant should be granted a spot in the NBA All-Star game, whether he is voted in or not, for the accomplishments over his 20-year career. The Clippers are 16-13 straight up this season and 10-16-3 against the spread, while the Lakers are 5-24 overall and 10-19 against the number.

It’s the worst thing possible for Nance as fans everywhere would have been watching the game and looking for some Christmas entertainment. On the Lakers’ side, Julius Randle was set to see a foot specialist after missing Wednesday’s loss with an ankle injury, but he’s probable. Russell led the team with 16 points off the bench, including two three-pointers and Huertas who netted a +18 on the night, finished with six points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

The retiring Kobe Bryant may not have the best game but his presence alone is enough for fans as he played his final NBA Christmas game by scoring 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 26 minutes of game play.

Many forget that this nearly happened in the season immediately following Shaquille O’Neal’s departure from Los Angeles in the first of Bryant’s many seasons of discontent.

“I thought we got stops”, Griffin said of the Clippers’ early success.

The Clippers scored only 9 4th quarter points; the last time the Clippers won a game with only 9 4th quarter points was way back on January 28, 2007, at Seattle. That marked a huge lead over Golden State’s Stephen Curry (510,202) and Cleveland’s LeBron James (357,937).

“He (Kobe) has been good the last 10 games or so…I’m pretty sure he’s happy with how he’s playing”, Lakers head coach Byron Scott told media, “he’s playing at a different level right now than he was about a month ago”.

During Friday’s to the, Bryant said he reflected on that 2010 Finals win with teammate, especially when Bryant saw Clippers forward, a member of that 2010 Celtics team.

X factor: While the fourth quarter was not a memorable one for the home team, Wesley Johnson would prove vital to curbing the Lakers rally. The 2016 All-Star Game will be played on February 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.