Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (Photo : Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports/ REUTERS)
Rookie point guard Jordan Clarkson has once again reminded everybody that he's the point guard of the future for the Los Angeles Lakers after recording a big double-double, and then hitting a game-winning layup at the buzzer to lift the Lakers to a 113-111 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday at Wells Fargo Arena.
Clarkson, the 46th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Missouri, put up the best all-around performance of his budding career, as he exploded for 26 points on 9-for-15 shooting along with 11 dimes, 6 rebounds and 3 turnovers in 44 minutes of action (per ESPN) against a very young but talented Sixers team. With the score tied at 111-111, Clarkson scored off a nice assist from Wayne Ellington as the clock expired to finish their five-game road trip with a victory.
The Lakers, who notched their 20th game of the season, trailed the Sixers by 11, 28-17, at the end of the first quarter but rallied in the second quarter to take a 51-50 lead at the break. The second hand featured back-and-forth battle with Clarkson hitting four consecutive free-throws to send the game into overtime.
Shooting guard Jabari Brown, who is playing on his second 10-day contract, recorded 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting while Ellington chipped in 20 points for the Lakers. Sixers big man Nerlens Noel led way for the Sixers with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists and Isaiah Canaan tallied 18 points.
Jeremy Lin, who has been one of the most consistent players for the Lakers since the All-Star break, missed his second consecutive game with upper respiratory infection. The Asian-American standout has been slated to start alongside Clarkson in the backcourt for the remainder of the season, before he showed sinus illness symptoms on Friday.
