LA Clippers hold off tough Sydney Kings

Andrew Bogut proved he could still play in the NBA and the Sydney Kings showed plenty of fight, but it was not enough to upset the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers won 110-91 in Honolulu on Sunday in the latest game of the NBA-NBL exhibition series.

The Kings kept close to the Clippers throughout the game, unlike the 130-72 shellacking the Utah Jazz gave the Perth Wildcats on Saturday.

At half-time the Clippers led 59-54 and with six minutes left Sydney trailed by just six points before LA charged home.

The Kings’ diminutive 175cm-tall US import point guard Jerome Randle led Sydney with 25 points.

Bogut, the NBA’s top draft pick in 2005 and a 13-season veteran of basketball’s top league, moved back to Australia this year to play in the NBL.

Bogut had eight points, eight rebounds and four assists.

His elite play calling, trademark passing, brutal screens and rim protection were on show and will likely generate interest from NBA teams looking for an experienced big man.

Bogut did have an injury scare early in the second quarter when Clippers forward Luc Mbah A Moute drove to the basket and his right leg collided with Bogut’s left leg.

The scene that followed was a familiar sight for the injury-prone Bogut, who grimaced and immediately limped to the bench.

He received treatment at the end of the court before returning with two minutes left in the second quarter and continuing his strong play.

The Clippers are in a re-building phase after their three All-Stars, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, left the team in the past two seasons.

The Clippers were led by forwards Tobias Harris and Italian-born forward Danilo Gallinari with 20 and 19 points respectively.

The NBL-NBA exhibition series continues on Thursday AEST when the Phoenix Suns host the New Zealand Breakers and later in the week Melbourne United plays the Toronto Raptors, Perth will look to improve against the Denver Nuggets and the Adelaide 36ers face the Jazz.