Photo Jordon Kelly
The Los Angeles Clippers won its home opener, beating the Dallas Mavericks, 104-88, to the delight of Clipper Nation and to the chagrin of Maverick fans still smarting from the Jordan deal gone bad. What deal you ask….here is a quick recap: Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (aka DJ) as a free-agent verbally agreed to a four-year $80 million contract with the Mavericks only renege on it after a visit from Clippers coach Doc Rivers, and Clipper teammates Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and JJ Reddick. At the end of their visit, DJ was a Maverick no more opting to remain a Clipper. Of course this act incited the wrath of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban…forever. Prior to tip-off Cuban offered these words about the Clippers, “I just don’t give a [expletive] about the Clippers.”
Photo: Jordon Kelly
Fortunately for the Clippers, Cubans’ dismissal of the team had zero effect on the game. The Clippers led most of the game with forward Blake Griffin scoring 26 points, 10 rebounds and guards Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers coming off the bench to score 15 and 14 points respectfully. The Mavericks were led by forward John Jenkins, 17 points, six rebounds, followed by power forward Dirk Nowitzki, 16 points and seven rebounds. Jordan and Nowitzki who mixed it up in the second quarter provided the game fireworks; words were exchanged, and three technical fouls were assessed – one to Jordon, Griffin, and the Mavericks guard Raymond Felton. The fans loved it, chanting “DJ, DJ.” What did Jordan think? “It was good NBA foul and it’s an emotional game,” Jordan said. “Nothing against Dirk at all.”
Photo: Jordon Kelly
Their was a light moment in the game when Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban were shown on the Kiss-Cam, split screen, with Ballmer blowing kisses to Cuban who eventually blew a return kiss. The Clippers return to Staples, Saturday, October 31 to face the Sacramento Kings.
