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LA Clippers · First impressions mean everything, so the LA Clippers wasted no time punishing their intra-city rivals defensively. In their first game of the season, Kawhi Leonard shows no ill effects returning from injury with a leaping interception of a crosscourt pass, nor does John Wall, who gets a steal of his own while also gift-wrapping another for teammate Paul George that leads to a coast-to-coast slam. Norman Powell proves that no inbound pass is guaranteed when he scores a theft deep in his squad’s end to turn aside a close range Los Angeles Lakers attempt, while Robert Covington thwarts another opportunity in the post with a block from behind. Even when LeBron James works his magic by finding a cutting Lonnie Walker IV with a heads-up pass, Ivica Zubac is there for one of his five rejections. The Clips’ seven blocks and steals apiece frustrated the Lakers all night, as did the defensive pressure that induced a 9-for-45 night from downtown in the Clippers’ 103-97 season-opening win on October 20, 2022. · State of Mint