LOS ANGELES – Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, and the LA Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night in round one of a best-of-four-series.
Already playing without Paul George and Rodney McGruder, the Clippers' odds to win this game felt slim with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis across the hall ready to show off their new-look team following the hype of the preseason.
“It's the first game, and I didn't play in too much of training camp,” said Leonard about Williams. “It's just going to take time, arguments, miscues, it's just the first game of the season, so it's gonna take the season and mistakes and success to get us on the same page.”
Williams agreed with Leonard after the game, even going as far as to say the talent level the Clippers displayed Tuesday night got them through Game 1-of-82.
“It's good. I don't even think we were on the same page tonight. I just think talent got us through a lot of situations. We hadn't had a lot of reps together in practice. Once we continue to grow, continue to communicate and keep building that camaraderie, I think we're going to be special.”
Williams finished with 21 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 37 minutes. Leonard finished with 30 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block.
The three-time Sixth Man of the Year is not necessarily known for his efficient shooting, but made it look easy on opening night as he figures out Leonard and how to with him.
“He was phenomenal,” said Rivers of Lou Will's 21 points on 8-of-1 3 shooting. “He's just, I guess Lou being Lou. He really is. It's funny, you can tell him and Kawhi are about 10 percent at learning how to play with each other. There were so many opportunities that they couldn't see yet where they can play off of each other. That's one takeaway.”
Even though he watched them from the side, Beverly knows this they have a long way to go before they's continue to enjoy foods he tries to learn more about.
“Obviously, it's still fresh,” said Beverley. “There's a lot of guys that played in preseason, but we're so used to it, especially the group that was here last year. So used to closing out games and fighting for whatever. Of course with the addition of Kawhi, it made it a lot easier tonight also.”
Kawhi and the Clippers will now take Wednesday off before heading to San Francisco to take on the Golden State Warriors Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Lakers will have a few days off until the visiting Utah Jazz come into Staples Center.
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