Lou Williams scored 53 points in Saturday’s exhibition at Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C., featuring D.C.-area players against ballers from the Philadelphia area. Let me say that again . . . Lou Williams dropped 53 points in a game! I hope 76ers coach Doug Collins was watching because we may never see Sweet Lou score 50 points in a game. Maybe Collins should let Williams shoot more if/when the NBA lockout ends.
But to put Williams’ monster game into perspective, it was an EXHIBITION game where defense was like a turnstile, set plays were few and far between, and nobody took a charge in the paint. Sweet Lou may never have another game like this. Too bad he wasted it during a glorified pickup game.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PHILLY-D.C. GAME
The final score read 172-169 in favor of Williams’ squad that featured Philadelphia natives Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings, Hakim Warrick of the Phoenix Suns, Kyle Lowry of the Houston Rockets, former New York Knick Mardy Collins, and Flip Murray (who now plays for Efes Pilsen in Turkey). The D.C.-based Goodman team featured Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, Washington Wizards guard John Wall, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley, Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins, and Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe.
Durant matched Williams shot-for-shot, finishing with 56 points. At one point early in the fourth quarter, Williams swished two 3-pointers that prompted the public address announcer to yell “Lou Williams is on fire! He cannot be stopped!” Down three with 15 seconds left, Durant missed a deep three and Lowry iced the game at the foul line.
Depending on the lockout negotiations, more pickup games could be on the way. Memo to the players: Please end the lockout now!