Credit: Twitter
After losing their opening two matches against the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, the Los Angeles Clippers registered their first win on Friday night after beating the Houston Rockets 106-100 at the Crypto.com Arena. While Clippers guard James Harden's game-winner was the headline of the game, Russell Westbrook's on-court banter with Rockets forward Dillon Brooks became viral on social media.
James Harden, who left the Philadelphia 76ers this post-season, made the headlines on Friday night with his 4-point play in the final seconds of the game to help the Clippers take the lead. With his game-winning shot, Harden helped the Clippers snap their six-game losing streak and also registered his first win with the Los Angeles-based franchise after playing six games.
Watch Harden's clutch play:
In the starting three minutes of the second quarter, Russell Westbrook and Dillon Brooks were involved in a street-ball scene. With over nine minutes on the clock, Westbrook took a flight to posterize Brooks, however, the 35-year-old failed to make a tomahawk slam. But the Clippers guard drew a foul call on the Rockets forward, who was seemingly miffed with the officials' decision and chirped at Westbrook.
Brooks said, "You got no bounce." The vocal leader of the Clippers laughed at Brooks over his comment and went toward the free-throw line to shoot two shots.
Watch the video here:
While the Clippers snapped their six-game losing streak, the Rockets ended their six-game winning streak after losing on Friday. Despite the win, the Clippers are placed at the bottom in the West Group B standings in the In-Season Tournament with a win and two losses while the Rockets have managed the third spot with a win and a loss.
The Clippers will next travel to the AT&T Center to face Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs in two consecutive 2023-24 NBA regular season clashes on Monday and Wednesday followed by their In-Season Tournament game against the New Orleans Pelicans at home on Friday night.
