Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson scores career-high in Lakers loss

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 18 points in the Los Angeles Lakers 98-92 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday morning, January 28 (Philippine time), at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. 

Clarkson started for the Lakers on Wednesday due to the third straight missed game by Kobe Bryant, who’s expected to be out for the rest of the regular season because of a torn right rotator cuff in his shoulder. 

Since Bryant went down in New Orleans last week, Clarkson has averaged 12.3 PPG, 3 APG, and 2 RPG. He’s also gone a combined 15-of-37 from the field in 94 total minutes.

This NBA season, Clarkson is putting up 5.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 1.0 APG – numbers that are expected to increase with Bryant out of action.

The Lakers have lost nine straight games and are in 14th place in the Western Conference standings with a 12-34 record. In 23 home games at the Staples Center, the Lakers have won just six times. 

“We were moving the ball, getting to the rim and getting easy shots,” Clarkson said after the game, per the Associated Press. 

“In the third quarter, we started missing shots, made a couple of turnovers, and they just started playing in transition. John Wall is hard to stop when that happens. He’s fast. He’s one of the fastest players I’ve ever played against.”

Wayne Ellington led the Lakers with 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Wall was superb for the Wizards, putting up 21 points to go with 13 assists and 9 rebounds. 

– Rappler.com