LOS ANGELES — Even the home team had cobwebs to brush aside at the start. The Los Angeles Clippers were accustomed to a 12:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Saturday tip-off little more than the Washington Wizards. Washington led 13-0 to open the game. Multiple players, for both sides, appeared still sleepy. The game was not crisp. The crowd was not hyped. A passive Saturday afternoon was underway when Washington’s situation flipped from 13 points in front to 13 behind by halftime.
But, by the time the game was over, any earlier sleepwalking was crushed by a taught, head-scratching finish.