DALLAS >> The Clippers spent much of last summer prioritizing improving their bench. They added Marreese Speights, Raymond Felton and Brandon Bass. Paul Pierce committed for another year.
Recently, however, with the Clippers swooning, you would have been hard-pressed to know that the second unit was supposed to be a strength.
Then on Tuesday night against the Lakers, the reserves were far from reserved. Led by 18 points from Austin Rivers and 15 from Jamal Crawford, the Clippers bench scored 57 of the team’s season high-tying 133 points.
“In the past, when the starters have played well the bench will come in and think it’s an offensive contest,” Coach Doc Rivers said.