Kennard sparks Clippers to huge comeback win
Los Angeles Clippers guard Luke Kennard, a Franklin High School graduate, made all eight of his shots and scored all of his season high-tying 20 points in the second half as the Clippers rallied from a 22-point deficit in the second half to snap the Atlanta Hawks’ eight-game winning streak with a 119-110 victory Monday night. “I think it’s definitely one of the most fun games I’ve been a part of in my basketball career,” Kennard said. “That’s top two, if not at the top. The group that was in, and then just hearing the guys on the sidelines, the way they were cheering us on as we made that run, that’s what it’s all about.” According to the Clippers, Kennard became the second player in the shot clock era to record at least 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists while shooting 100% from the field in under 20 minutes of play. The only other player to accomplish the feat was Hall of Famer and Middletown High School grad Jerry Lucas, who went for 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists on Dec. 11, 1971.
The Cincinnati Bengals will have four new cornerbacks getting to know each other and the system in 2021, as Lou Anarumo’s defensive rebuild continued last week during the first days of free agency.
Former Pittsburgh slot corner Mike Hilton and former Dallas cornerback Chidobe Awuzie signed as unrestricted free agents, replacing Mackensie Alexander and William Jackson, respectively. They are expected to be joined in the secondary this season by Trae Waynes, who arrived as a free agent last spring but missed the entire year because of a pectoral injury suffered in training camp. On Tuesday, former Ohio State standout Eli Apple was also added, with the six-year veteran free agent signing a one-year deal. He spent time with the Carolina Panthers last season, playing just four games before foot and ankle injuries put him on injured reserve before he was eventually released.
Anarumo said how quickly they jell and get a feel for the way each other plays will depend on whether the Bengals have an offseason and normal training camp, but the third-year defensive coor- dinator doesn’t see four newcomers hindering progress he seeks on defense.
“That will make it a little more challenging, but I don’t see it taking long,” Anarumo said. “The nice thing is we have two safeties that are in place. They can kind of adjust to things. For Jessie (Bates), this will be his third year. For Vonn (Bell), it’ll be his second. I think that can really help out. Those guys I know already are on a text string. They are all talking already, so that’s the good news. They have already reached out to each other. Those ... guys need to be as thick as thieves. That’s how that works.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he is excited to add both Hilton and Awuzie to the mix after having competed against both in the past and now having a chance to get to know them on a personal level. Anarumo said Awuzie is a complete package, bring- ing some length, physicality, a high football IQ and consistency at 6 foot, 200 pounds.
Taylor especially is glad his offense won’t have to block Hilton coming off the edge on blitzes anymore. After spending his first four seasons with the Steelers, Hilton brings a new element to the defense, as Cincinnati’s cor- nerbacks last year totaled six
Mike Hilton had eight tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hits, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2020 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, while playing just 12 games. Hilton brings a new element to the Cincinnati Bengals defense in 2021. tackles for loss, no sacks and just two quarterback hits.
Hilton had eight tackles for loss, three sacks, five quar- terback hits, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2020, while playing just 12 games.
“The way Mike pressures and the way he allows you to do certain things with him, we like to bring our edge guys, we like to bring our nickel and we like to bring our safeties,” Anarumo said. “He’ll fit right into what we have done. It’s really not that big of a differ- ence to be quite honest when it comes to that part of it. I was talking to him (Thurs- day) and he was all excited.
“He’ll be doing similar things, providing pressure on the quarterback and TFLs like he did in Pittsburgh.”
Hilton had four sacks and eight quarterback hits as a rookie in 2017 and since then he’s had to change a few things as opponents started recognizing the type of blitz he could bring. He worked on learning quarterback cadences better and trying not to tip them with an inside look, and while it’s become more of a challenge to get a free run to the quarterback, he’s still excelled at it.
One thing he never got to do in Pittsburgh was try to bring down Ben Roethlisberger in practices. He’s confi- dent now if given the chance, he could, despite his 5-foot9, 184-pound stature.
“I trust my ability,” Hilton said. “I’m able to take down more athletic running backs that have his same size. If I get a chance to take my shot on Ben, it’s definitely gonna be fun.”
Going from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, he’s leaving a team with a strong playoff history and coming to one still very much in a rebuilding phase. Hilton, 27, said he took notice of what the Bengals were trying to build over the last few years and seeing Joe Burrow last season gave him belief the team was ready to turn the corner.
As a guy who came into the league as an undrafted free agent, Hilton knows what it’s like to embrace the role of an “underdog.” Now as an established player, he wants to be a part of Cincinnati’s turnaround.
“Over these four years playing against these guys, I’ve seen the type of players that they had and what they were building,” Hilton said. “Once they brought in Joe (Burrow) to be the franchise guy, he showed me what he’s capable of and that definitely attracted me here. I’m excited to be here and get the train rolling.”
Awuzie, who was a second-round draft pick by the Cowboys in 2017, said he signed for similar reasons.
The former University of Colorado standout recorded 213 tackles, four intercep- tions, 37 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over four seasons but was limited to eight games last year because of a midseason injury.
“The main one is a chance of being a part of something special,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about Cincinnati in terms of signing here, in terms of the city. Never been to Ohio. It’s real exciting, just to hear about basically the team, the place, the heart of Cincinnati . ... I went to the University of Colorado and we weren’t a very good team. A lot of people doubted us and we were able to build something there that was special. A lot of those guys are some of my greatest friends at this point, too. I feel like through struggle, that’s when some of the best football starts being played and some of the best bonds get created. Real excited to do that.”