Center Moussa Diabate found out quickly that being drafted by a star-laden team doesn’t always bode well for newly drafted players who want to showcase their skills.
In two seasons with the Clippers, the French player has seen action in just 11 NBA games, spending most of his time playing for the team’s G League franchise, making Summer League games another opportunity to prove his worth.
Diabate, a third-year player and unrestricted free agent, stepped up in the Clippers’ third Summer League game on Tuesday night, posting 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists to help the unbeaten Clippers (3-0) defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 112-97, at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Diabate, a 7-footer from the University of Michigan, shot 9 for 13 from the field and made all three of his free-throw attempts.
Diabate wasn’t the only Clippers player to finish in double figures. Jordan Miller continued his torrid pace, scoring seven of the team’s final nine points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to finish with a team-high 23 points. Miller, who had averaged 28.5 points in his first two Summer League games, shot 9 for 14 from the field.
He entered the game having connected on all 21 of his free throws before missing his first in the first quarter. Miller was 3 for 9 from the line against the winless Bucks (0-3).
Kobe Brown added 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists and rookie Cam Christie had 13 points on 4-for-13 shooting (3 of 10 from 3-point range).
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The Bucks were led by Ryan Rollins, who scored a game-high 24 points and A.J. Johnson added 22 points and Chris Livingston 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The Clippers again dominated early, extending a 12-5 lead into a 12-point advantage before heading into halftime leading 58-45. Diabate scored 10 points in the first 24 minutes.
The Bucks, however, climbed back into the game with a solid third quarter, cutting the deficit to five 77-72 with 2:01 left in the period. But Milwaukee couldn’t overcome 15 turnovers and poor shooting from 3-point range (8 for 30).
The Clippers next fact the Utah Jazz on Thursday at 7 p.m.