Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Clippers look like turbo-frauds after losing to the zombie Nuggets.
The Los Angeles Clippers traded for James Harden just days into this season so they could compete with teams like the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference. The Clips proceeded to start 0-5 after making the Harden deal, but fear not: ‘The Beard’ said he needed ‘a 10-game window’ to get right after he held out of training camp to force a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Clippers and Nuggets met on Monday night in a game that looked nothing like a possible Western Conference Finals showdown, and not just because it included the Clippers. Denver was without Nikola Jokic (back), Jamal Murray (hamstring), and Aaron Gordon (heel) for the game. LA was at full strength, with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Harden in the starting lineup and Russell Westbrook coming off the bench. If there was ever a time for a get-right game for the Clips, this was it.
Instead, it turned into the most embarrassing loss of the season for the Clippers. The Nuggets beat LA, 113-104, without their three best players to issue a reminder on who runs the West. Even worse, the Clippers got pasted by two of their former players: Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Jordan.
If you just glanced at the box score on Tuesday morning, it would be easy to think you were still stuck in a dream. Reggie Jackson (!) popped off for 35 points, 13 assists, and five rebounds on 15-of-19 shooting from the floor in the win. DeAndre Jordan (!!!) finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists on 8-of-11 shooting.
Neither Jackson or Jordan was part of the Nuggets’ rotation a season ago as the team won its first championship in franchise history, but they still smoked a supposed ‘contender.’ The Clippers had a chance to get back to .500 with a win, and instead their nightmare start to this season extended another note.
By the way, this was Harden’s 11th game with the Clippers. So much for a 10-game window.
What’s even wilder is that the Nuggets won despite the two regular starters in their lineup having an off-night. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr. combined to shoot 6-of-27 from the floor for 20 points. This was really all Jackson and Jordan:
Reggie Jackson just became the first player since the NBA started tracking individual turnovers (1978) to put up at least 35 pts and 13 assists on over 75 FG% with under 3 turnovers
— Bennett Herbert (@bendog28) November 28, 2023
It’s like Lob City all over again.
Jackson had been a solid contributor for the Clippers over the years, helping the team reach the 2021 Western Conference Finals as Leonard tore his ACL. Jackson eventually fell out of the rotation last season, and the team dealt him at the trade deadline for Mason Plumlee.
Jordan hasn’t been a member of the Clippers since 2018, but was an essential part of their ‘Lob City’ core alongside Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Jordan’s season-high a year ago was 12 points. He’s barely played in recent years, and seems to only be in the league to improve locker room vibes. This was only his third game played of the season.
When Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Jordan are putting up Stockton and Malone numbers on you, you might be in trouble.
Tonight the @nuggets‘ Reggie Jackson & DeAndre Jordan combined for:
55+ points
15+ rebounds
15+ assists
75.0+ FG%
75.0+ 3P%
Only 2 other duos in NBA history have put up those numbers in a game: Stockton/Malone & Murray/Jokić.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) November 28, 2023
Maybe the Clippers will eventually figure it out this season. Crazier things have happened before. For now, this looks like a desperate team grasping at anything that can save the Leonard-George era in its fourth season. The Clippers were supposed to have a championship by 2023 when they initially acquired both superstars. Instead they’re losing to Jackson and Jordan as every basketball fan paying attention made fun of them:
I’m sorry, the full-strength Clippers got spanked by DeAndre Jordan? In the year 2023?
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) November 28, 2023
Reggie Jackson and Deandre Jordan are teaming up to put together the craziest revenge game right now
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) November 28, 2023
The Clippers getting cooked by DeAndre Jordan and Reggie Jackson is some high-level script writing
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 28, 2023
The Clippers must think this is 2012 with Leonard, George, Harden, and Westbrook all playing big roles, and they played like it on Monday: LA shot just 6-of-20 from three-point range. You aren’t winning any NBA games in 2023 taking only 20 threes.
Harden was bad again, finishing with 11 points in 36 minutes. He only took seven shots on the night. So much for a ‘10-game window.’ This holdout really might have cost him his final days as an All-Star caliber player. Don’t forget this man led the NBA in assists last year. He’s been a total non-factor since being traded to the Clippers.
The Nuggets’ depth was supposed to be a concern heading into the season, but it looked just fine on Monday night. The Clippers, meanwhile, keep sinking. LA better go on a run soon before it loses too much ground in a loaded Western Conference.
