Shock were the faces of many after the Lakers games between the Lakers & Clippers.
Xavier Henry scored a career-high 22 points, Jordan Farmar added 16, and five Los Angeles Lakers reserves surged past the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter for a surprising 116-103 victory in both clubs’ season opener Tuesday night.
With Kobe Bryant watching in street clothes behind Pau Gasol and Steve Nash on the Lakers’ bench, Jodie Meeks scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers stunned their Staples Center rivals in Clippers coach Doc Rivers’ debut.
The Lakers did it down the stretch with a lineup comprised entirely of backups – including three who weren’t on the team last season. Henry, the former first-round pick who burned out in Memphis and New Orleans, scored 12 points in the fourth quarter while leading a decisive 28-8 run.
The reserves were led by Farmar, the two-time NBA champion guard who returned to the Lakers from Turkey this summer, and Henry, who impressed the Lakers throughout training camp.
Coach Mike D’Antoni suggested the Lakers will use 11 players many nights to counteract Bryant’s absence and Nash’s fragile health – and the early results of that plan were awfully encouraging.
Clippers Blake Griffin scored 19 points and Chris Paul had 15 points and 11 assists.
Celebrity Adam Levin from the Voice tweeted that he was jumping up and down after the win while Jackson Nicolson grinned and whistled as the Lakers pulled away in the 4th.
