The Stapels Center was buzzing with excitment tonight to help open their teams season against the new Charlotte Bobcats.
The player introductions were massive, when newley aquired Kenyon Martin was introduced the crowd went insane and start shouten Kmart, Kmart in celebration
Then the business started-
1st quarter was a tough close battle and you could see there was a lot of butterflies flying around the players stomach's as it was their first hitout for the season for the Clippers.
The bobcats had a great first quarter by Emeka Okafor who really did not be intimidated by Martin.
26-23 at the quarter break to the Bobcats.
Okafor was very good in first quarter with 10 tough points
2nd Quarter-
Another tough close quarter, Kenyon really starting to show his great game he has by finishing with 10 points and 7 rebounds. Livingston got big cheers when he came on and finished the quarter with 3 dimes. Little Brevin Knight was a theif in the first half and ended up with 5 steals.
Bobcats just infront at the halftime break 51-50
Kenyon with a signature dunk that got the crowd going in the second.
3rd Quarter -
The Clippers came out of the locker rooms a different team as they dominated the first 5 minutes of the second half, with great efforts from Wilcox and Kenyon also Corey Maggete started to find his feet.
But the unpredictable Bobcats came storming back on Keith Bogons, he was unstoppable from downtown and got them back into the quarter by himself.
Clippers hit the lead at the 3 quarter break 84-78
Corey Maggette started a great run for the Clippers
4th quarter-
Keith Bogans continued his hot streak from downtown and shocked the home crowd with an incredible last quarter to send it to overtime!
Both teams locked at 106-106
OT-
The crowd still in a bit of shock after being sent to overtime ws treated to a tough arm wrestle in overtime. All the great performances from the clippers were shoved out the door when Keith Bogans put the dagger into Clipper hearts when he hit a three with 1.2 seconds to go to give them the lead 124-121.
Clippers take a time out with 1.2 seconds to go.
The clippers couldnt find Jaric who was in there ready to try tie it up so they got it to Kittles and it rimmed out. It was a heart breaking loss to the Clippers and the fans went home without the expected win!
Bogans and Okafor won the game for bobcats
Press Conference after the game-
ESPN-
What were you pleased about and not so pleased about the game tonight?
Mike- We lost to the Bobcats! 2nd game they played in their whole organization career and we lost to them! Positives we can take out is i think Kmart was fantastic, Shaun Livingston showed alot of promise, Chris Wilcox was great, Corey Maggete did a great job also, None of that matters as we came out of the game the losing team.
ESPN- Corey, What did you think about Bogans lighting it up from downtown?
Corey- Man, it was insane, he carried his team tonight theres no doubt about it they deserved the win tonight, new or not they played very well and we shouldnt have any excuses, We will be ok, its only the first game.
22 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
ESPN-
How did it feel to finally play an NBA Game?
Livingston- Man i aint going to lie, it was nerve racking, the place was going off when Kenyon was introduced and luckily coach didnt put me in till 2nd quarter to help me calm down, im upset we lost but i think we will get a lot better very soon, we only started playing all together a few days ago after the kenyon trade!
12 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals
ESPN-
What do you want to say to the Clipper fans after tonights loss?
Kenyon- Come on man, you know it was a shame we loss but Bobcats played extremely well, we will come together as a unit soon! Hopefully give us a few games and we will be good as a 5 year team, we all like each other theres no fights or anything at the moment we just got to gel on the court thats all, Clip fans dont worry we will come back strong.
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