Clippers 125, Wizards 109
Q. You had your second career start in this game. What's the difference for you starting or coming off the bench?
BILAL COULIBALY: I mean, I'm just trying to play hard, even though I'm coming off the bench or starting.
But yeah, it feels a little different because you know you've got the best players on the court and yeah, it's just trying to be focused, and I'm competitive. So I'm just trying to get some steals on the big players like James Harden. I wish Paul George played but he did not, and Kawhi, too. Well, that's it.
Q. What was the biggest challenge for you in this game tonight?
BILAL COULIBALY: Just trying to not foul on the three-point line. I know I've been getting a calls on that defensively because they have great players defensively. Yeah, just trying to do as much as possible.
Q. And on the offensive end, what advantages did you see to garner the 19 points that you did tonight?
BILAL COULIBALY: I mean, I saw some wide-open cuts, trying to, you know, facilitate the rim, and then yeah, when I had ball in my hands, just when I get to that rim, putting pressure on that rim to spread out sometimes and then just finish other times.
Q. Are you a particular fan of Paul George?
BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, I used to watch him all my life growing up. Yeah, loving his game.
Q. Being announced for the Rival Stars game, do you have any goals looking forward to that game or any players you're looking forward to playing against in that one?
BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, put some show. You know, do some crazy dunks. Highlights. Just want to have some fun. It's a great week and great experience, and I'm very proud of that.
Q. You mentioned guarding James Harden, and you said you didn't want to foul him by the three-point line. What kind of unique challenges does a player like that pose defensively?
BILAL COULIBALY: Yeah, James Harden is one of the players I used to watch growing up, and yeah, I know he's a really like shifting and everything. Yeah, it's a big challenge. He's a big scorer. He can facilitate, too. So yeah, just be locked in defensively. He controls fouls, too. So we're just trying to be focused in that.
Q. With the Rising Stars competition, on the court you said you wanted to be fanciful and have some fun with it but off the court, how will you use that as a learning advantage for you to maybe speak to some of the All-Stars who are vets in the league?
BILAL COULIBALY: I'll try to be there in the All-Star Game, that we all want, the big one. Yeah, trying to talk to the best players, learn a little bit more about the game, about the NBA and about all of them. Even the NBA that are going to be there, a lot of the people that knows a lot about the NBA. So yeah, I'm going to try to learn a little bit more.
Q. You mentioned you wished Paul George had played be tonight. We talked a lot about you wanting a really tough defensive assignment. Is there any player in the league who would intimidate you who you might not want to defend?
BILAL COULIBALY: No, no, no, no. No, nobody.
Q. Well, what's your dream match, past or present? Who is one player you would love to defend?
BILAL COULIBALY: I love, Che-Mac (ph). I used to watch him a lot. And yeah, I wish I could play against him but I can't. And Paul George was one of my -- the one I wanted, so next game, it's in a couple weeks.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports