While the Los Angeles Lakers blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, the other Los Angeles NBA team, the Clippers, showed them exactly how to close out an opponent.

Christmas Day, the opening day of this abbreviated 2011-2012 NBA season, Los Angeles’ marquis NBA team with 16 championship titles, were soundly beating the Chicago Bulls 82-71at the Staples Center with just 3:44 left in the fourth quarter.

But as so often happened last season, turnovers and missed free throws raised their ugly heads, allowing the Bulls to stay catch up.  Four missed free throws in the last two[-minutes and a critical turnover of an inbound pass in the final minute led to the winning field goal by the Bulls; Derek Rose, and an 88-87 Lakers loss.

Meanwhile up North, the Clippers were in a close game with the Golden State Warriors.  Only one-point separated the two teams, 82-81, at the 6:50 mark of the fourth quarter.  That’s when the Clippers got down to business.

By the time the clock had wound down to the 3:44 mark, the Clippers were up by nine points, 93-84.  Would they fold like Los Angeles’ marquis team did earlier in the day at Staples Center?

Not a chance.

Instead, the Clippers played some of the best team basketball that Los Angeles fans have seen since the Lakers won back-to-back NBA titles.  It was absolutely no contest.

The Warriors could not keep up with the speed and deadly accuracy of Chris Paul or the clutch shooting of Caron Butler and Chauncey Billups or the tough board play of DeAndre Jordan who blocked eight shots.  In the end, the Clippers left no doubt with a 19-point drubbing of the Warriors, 105-86.

Big brother can definitely learn a lesson from little brother on how you finish out an opponent.