LAS VEGAS — Jordan Miller and the Clippers got the better of Bronny James and the Lakers.
Miller had a strong offensive effort that helped offset James’ best performance of the summer, igniting a game-ending run that led the Clippers to a 67-58 victory in an NBA Summer League game on Monday night at UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center.
The Clippers (3-0) held the Lakers to 22 field goals and 34.4% shooting while forcing 19 turnovers. Trailing with 3:26 left, the Clippers closed the game on an 11-0 run that started with a Miller 3-pointer. Zavier Simpson added a pair of free throws with 2:30 left, then a Miller driving layup made it a 63-58 lead with a minute left.
The Lakers’ Dalton Knecht missed a corner 3-point attempt with 45 seconds left, then a Miller steal and layup with 13 seconds left essentially iced the game. Miller tacked on another layup in the final seconds, giving him nine points during the game-clinching surge.
The Lakers (1-2 in Las Vegas, 3-3 overall this summer) missed their final seven shots of the night.
Miller finished with a team-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Simpson added 12 points, six assists, four rebounds and two blocked shots, while Patrick Baldwin Jr. contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks and rookie first-round draft pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser had 10 points, two rebounds and two steals. Cam Christie added eight points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.
James shot 6 for 10 from the field on his way to a team-best 17 points, while adding five rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes. Cole Swider had 16 points, five rebounds and three steals while shooting 6 for 14 from the field (4 for 11 from 3-point range).
Knecht added eight points, seven rebounds and two assists on a poor shooting night (3 for 15 overall, 1 for 8 from behind the arc), while Christian Koloko had eight points, three rebounds and three steals. Darius Bazley was held to one point, four rebounds and two assists while attempting just one shot.
On a night when neither team shot well, the Clippers opened a 22-13 lead after the first quarter. James and the Lakers right themselves some in the second quarter and outscored the Clippers 18-10 to trail by just one at halftime.
UP NEXT
The Lakers face the Boston Celtics on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Clippers face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Both teams will play at least one additional game on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, with the Clippers still alive for a spot in the semifinals.
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