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    Kyrie Irving Trade Focus of Clippers Fans After Kawhi Leonard, LA Beat Knicks in OT

    Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIFebruary 5, 2023

    Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) goes to the basket against New York Knicks center Jericho Sims in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Clippers won 134-128. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
    AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

    The Los Angeles Clippers escaped with a 134-128 road win over the New York Knicks in overtime Saturday.

    L.A. held a 98-81 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Knicks stormed all the way back and even took a 115-112 lead with under a minute left.

    However, Nicolas Batum hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer in regulation before the Clips' offense dominated in overtime.

    The Clippers notably didn't roll with a point guard in overtime, opting for a five of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Ivica Zubac, Batum and Norman Powell.

    Meanwhile, the Knicks' point guard, Jalen Brunson, cooked the Clippers to the tune of 41 points, seven assists and five rebounds. He was sensational all evening and nearly willed the Knicks to victory before Batum's shot.

    L.A. is squarely in the playoff picture at 30-26 and fourth in the Western Conference, but the team could certainly use some help at point guard.

    The latest rumor has the Clippers interested in Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

    Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn

    ESPN Sources: The Los Angeles Clippers have emerged in pursuit of a Kyrie Irving trade -- joining the Lakers, Mavericks, Suns and others: <a href="https://t.co/eVYY9wYqOE">https://t.co/eVYY9wYqOE</a>

    Kyrie Irving Trade Focus of Clippers Fans After Kawhi Leonard, LA Beat Knicks in OT
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    We'll see if anything comes to fruition before the Thursday at 3 p.m. ET deadline, but for now, folks on Twitter like the idea of Irving heading west.

    Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA

    No real knock on PG here, but this is why the Clippers are making a run at Kyrie. <a href="https://t.co/9pxIDX0ALd">https://t.co/9pxIDX0ALd</a>

    Luke Mitchell @lukemitch_

    If the clippers lose this game. Do whatever you can to get Kyrie, because all our "depth" is just useless if all were going to do is continuously suck.

    Ben Bosscher @BosscherBen

    Back to back games the Clippers absolutely collapse in the fourth quarter. Time to hit the panic button and trade for Kyrie. What could go wrong? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nba?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAllStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAAllStar</a>

    AJ Brown @Treyballbrown5

    Lol yea clippers forsure in on kyrie cause this choke job they doing against the Knicks is gross

    ___ @d_nwo1

    Yeahhhh Clippers find a way to lose so yall go all in on Kyrie. Make Kawhi happy.

    HipHopConnoisseur @__RiseAbove_

    I PRAY KYRIE GOES TO THE CLIPPERS

    Joey Linn @joeylinn_

    The Clippers have not been nearly good enough this season to not at least explore the possibility of adding a 27 PPG All-Star point guard to their team.<br><br>They should 100% be in on Kyrie Irving.

    Iverson The Great @theanswer76_

    Clippers are legit one of the scariest teams in the league if they get Kyrie and don't give up a house for him…

    rozez @shyguylunatic

    Please give the nets what they want 🙏🙏

    Donovan @_dcadd03

    Trade for Kyrie

    The Clippers just so happen to be facing the Nets next on Monday in Brooklyn. However, they may not see Irving, who missed his team's 125-123 home win against the Washington Wizards on Saturday with calf soreness.