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Collin Sexton Reacts to Breakout Performance for Lakers in Win vs. Clippers
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- Collin Sexton Reacts to Breakout Performance for Lakers in Win vs. Clippers
Collin Sexton had his breakout game in the Los Angeles Lakers ' 103-87 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Sexton led the Lakers' bench unit with 21 points in 21 minutes, shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-7 from three-point range.
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It was by far his best game of the campaign so far, and the math adds up, as Sexton was forced to miss the entire preseason and the regular-season opener with a lower-leg injury . Still, the Lakers will be glad they don't have to wait any longer.
"I'm just getting my legs back," Sexton said afterward. "Taking it one day at a time. I'm feeling better and more confident every time I'm out there."
Impact Bull
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Sexton went by the nickname 'Young Bull' in college and his early years in the NBA. Now 27 years old, the nine-year veteran wants to drop the 'Young', but the 'Bull' aspect of his game is not going anywhere.
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The former No. 8 overall pick (2018) went viral during the Lakers-Clippers game for his facial expressions while playing defense. That type of commitment and intensity is what head coach JJ Redick expects from Sexton when he's on the floor, and it's infectious for the rest of the team.
"I come into the game and try to impact it on the defensive end," Sexton added. "I know what I can do offensively, but I just want to come in and be a pest and be someone who changes games on the defensive side."
Though Sexton's impact on defense didn't directly show up in the box score, he still posted a team-high +23 plus-minus, underscoring his importance to the Lakers' success without Luka Doncic and Ziaire Williams.
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As a team, the Lakers racked up a season-high 48 rebounds and snatched 15 steals, turning 24 Clippers turnovers into 31 points.
They held the Clippers to 35 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc.
Sixth Man Candidate
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The Lakers signed Sexton to a two-year, $19.2 million contract this offseason, and should he maintain this level, he may be in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year honor.
He's an 18.3-point-per-game scorer in his career and a fine secondary playmaker (3.6 assists).
Sexton broke out of a slump of sorts against the Clippers, notching season highs in minutes, points, rebounds, and three-pointers made. He was shooting 2-for-13 from deep before the game.
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Doncic needing to sit out the second half of the back-to-back as a precautionary measure may prove to have been a blessing in disguise for the Lakers.
His absence required their role players to step up and gave Sexton the platform to find his rhythm on both ends of the hardwood. Elsewhere, Quentin Grimes led all scorers with 23 points, starting in Doncic's place.
Jake LaRavia chipped in five stocks (three steals, two blocks), and Jarred Vanderbilt impressed with a +22 plus-minus in 21 minutes in his season debut.
