Clippers keep losing in clutch time. Why are they struggling in close games?
1 year, 1 month ago

Clippers keep losing in clutch time. Why are they struggling in close games?

LA Times  

Three weeks into the NBA season, only two teams have yet to win a game decided in the final minutes. The Clippers are 0-5 in games within five points in the last five minutes, the NBA’s self-defined “clutch” time. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he had watched the last five minutes of losses to Utah, the Lakers, Memphis and Denver “10 times” for answers. Perhaps relatedly, the Clippers are allowing second-chance points in clutch scenarios at the league’s second-worst rate, and rank dead last in points in the paint allowed. “In those last five minutes we’re giving up 1.40 points per possession down the stretch of games and so that’s when we got to be better defensively,” Lue said.

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History of this topic

Clippers can’t keep pace during second half in loss to the Nuggets
1 week, 5 days ago

Clippers can’t keep pace during second half in loss to the Nuggets

LA Times  

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, knocks the ball away from Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, in the first half Friday night in Denver. Jamal Murray scored a game-high 20 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the Clippers 120-98 on Friday night despite a quiet game from Nikola Jokic. Jokic, who scored 56 and 48 points in the previous two games, …

Clippers begin road trip with rout of 76ers for fifth win in a row
1 month ago

Clippers begin road trip with rout of 76ers for fifth win in a row

LA Times  

Clippers guard James Harden reacts after scoring against the 76ers on Sunday evening in Philadelphia. James Harden had 23 points and eight assists, Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers coasted to a 125-99 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night. Harden was booed every time he touched the ball by 76ers fans …

Clippers’ offense steps up to end Orlando’s winning streak
1 month ago

Clippers’ offense steps up to end Orlando’s winning streak

LA Times  

Two of the NBA’s best defensive clubs collided Wednesday night and with that came the expectations of a slugfest between the Clippers and Orlando Magic. Just taking care of the basketball.” The Clippers’ defensive swagger came from giving up just 109.1 points per game, the fourth fewest, leading the league in steals, collecting 10.3 per game, and ranking seventh in …

Harden, Powell score 24 points apiece as the Clippers hold off the Raptors 105-103
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Harden, Powell score 24 points apiece as the Clippers hold off the Raptors 105-103

Associated Press  

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Harden had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Norman Powell added 24 points and the Los Angeles Clippers barely hung on to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Ivica Zubac had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won three straight at Intuit Dome after starting 0-4 …

Clippers, becoming experts at close games, lose a tight one to Portland
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Clippers, becoming experts at close games, lose a tight one to Portland

LA Times  

Kevin Porter Jr. of the Clippers drives against Donovan Clingan, center, and Scoot Henderson in the second half. “All of our games are going to be close,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Eighty-two of them.” Lue cracked a little smile after saying that, but the fact is that the Clippers lost to the Suns by three points in their regular-season …

Mavericks, Clippers meet with series tied 1-1
8 months ago

Mavericks, Clippers meet with series tied 1-1

Associated Press  

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks Dallas; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Mavericks -4.5; over/under is 209 WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1 BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Clippers visit the Dallas Mavericks for game three of the Western Conference first round with the series tied 1-1. Kawhi Leonard is scoring 23.7 points per game with 6.1 …

Depleted Clippers lose to Suns one day after routing them
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Depleted Clippers lose to Suns one day after routing them

LA Times  

Suns guard Eric Gordon shoots as Clippers guard Amir Coffey defends in the first half. The Clippers’ injury report listed Kawhi Leonard as out with right knee inflammation, the sixth consecutive game the All-Star forward has missed, which led to Coach Ty Lue being asked whether his best player’s injury could bleed into the playoffs. “No, not at as of …

Clippers right ship with victory over Trail Blazers
9 months ago

Clippers right ship with victory over Trail Blazers

LA Times  

Kawhi Leonard shoots between Portland’s Anfernee Simons, left, and Toumani Camara in the second half. In recent times the Clippers lost their way, losers of four of their last five games before they faced a Portland Trail Blazers team with the fifth-worst record in the league. And if they were going to shore that up against the Trail Blazers, the …

Clippers lose to Thunder as their struggles continue against top teams in the West
10 months ago

Clippers lose to Thunder as their struggles continue against top teams in the West

LA Times  

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard directs teammates while being guarded by Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort during the first half of the Clippers’ 129-107 loss Thursday. “In that third quarter, they just started running faster, playing harder,” said Kawhi Leonard, who led the Clippers with 20 points on nine-for-12 shooting. “I mean, you can cut it to four or six and still …

Column: ‘They’re in a really good rhythm.’ Clippers more than happy to just keep winning
11 months ago

Column: ‘They’re in a really good rhythm.’ Clippers more than happy to just keep winning

LA Times  

While the Lakers continue to flutter around.500, while fans rip coach Darvin Ham’s lineups and rotations and demand his head — or a season-saving trade, or both — the Clippers quietly and smoothly keep winning. They’re in a really good rhythm,” Ham said after the Lakers lost for the 14th time in 22 games since they won the NBA’s in-season …

The Clippers’ winning ways began with a change of mindset
11 months ago

The Clippers’ winning ways began with a change of mindset

LA Times  

The Clippers’ rebound from being one of the NBA’s most-maligned teams in November to one of its most dangerous two months later can be explained by any number of ways, supported both by reams of new-school statistics and the old-fashioned eye test. Harden has been “a huge part of it,” Mann said, “just him coming in here with all that …

Clippers’ offense cooks while LeBron James watches Lakers lose
11 months ago

Clippers’ offense cooks while LeBron James watches Lakers lose

LA Times  

James Harden drives to the hoop as Austin Reaves defends in the first half. “You damn near have to play perfect basketball to beat these guys,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Just overall didn’t play a good mental game and we didn’t do a good job with our coverages, especially defensively,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. But that’s pretty much …

Playing without Kawhi Leonard, Clippers’ win streak ends at nine
1 year ago

Playing without Kawhi Leonard, Clippers’ win streak ends at nine

LA Times  

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren celebrates after bouncing the ball to himself off the backboard and then dunking. Asked about the severity of Leonard’s injury, coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard was “day to day.” The team next plays Saturday in a home matinee against Eastern Conference-leading Boston. The loss, the Clippers’ first since Nov. 30, “doesn’t take away from what we’ve …

Clippers searching for consistency after James Harden trade
1 year ago

Clippers searching for consistency after James Harden trade

LA Times  

Clippers guard James Harden, left, controls the ball in front of Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. “We haven’t been consistent yet to say what we are as a team,” said wing Paul George, who has averaged 23.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.4 turnovers per game. “You see really good teams still struggling, so it’s just people …

Clippers rally from 22 down to beat Warriors on Paul George’s three-pointer
1 year ago

Clippers rally from 22 down to beat Warriors on Paul George’s three-pointer

LA Times  

Clippers forward Paul George elevates for a winning three-pointer against Warriors guard Klay Thompson in the last 10 seconds of the game Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. Between Thursday’s road loss to Golden State, and Saturday’s rematch in Los Angeles, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue asked James Harden to change the way he had been used to playing for the past decade. …

The Clippers just played 5 games in 7 days. Here’s what we learned about the team
1 year ago

The Clippers just played 5 games in 7 days. Here’s what we learned about the team

LA Times  

When the Clippers left San Antonio the night before Thanksgiving, they had won three consecutive games and looked to be, as wing Paul George said, “in good shape.” “We’re playing well, we liked how we looked offensively and defensively and it’s time to test it,” George said then. The test was how they would fare in what came next — …

Clippers show off their depth during dominant win over Mavericks
1 year, 1 month ago

Clippers show off their depth during dominant win over Mavericks

LA Times  

Trading for James Harden represented the Clippers’ acknowledgment they did not believe they had enough talent to contend for a championship, and their hope that four future Hall of Famers would be. And tonight we showed that.” Clippers ‘Constant communication’ is helping James Harden find his role with Clippers The former MVP has become the Clippers’ primary ballhandler and, after …

Clippers rally falls short during in-season-tournament loss to Pelicans
1 year, 1 month ago

Clippers rally falls short during in-season-tournament loss to Pelicans

LA Times  

Clippers guard James Harden, left, reaches for the ball next to New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall during the first half of an NBA in-season tournament game. So I take responsibility for that as far as just offensively, we’ve got to be better in that regard.” Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram shoots over Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half …

Clippers’ comeback against Nuggets comes up short, losing streak extends to six
1 year, 1 month ago

Clippers’ comeback against Nuggets comes up short, losing streak extends to six

LA Times  

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard pressures Nuggets center Nikola Jokic as he works in the post during the first half of the game Tuesday night in Denver. They left while inviting an NBA fine for criticizing officiating, after coach Tyronn Lue lamented that “we didn’t get the same calls” and Paul George called the referees “awful” and his five free-throw attempts …

Clippers remain winless in the James Harden era after blowout loss to Dallas
1 year, 1 month ago

Clippers remain winless in the James Harden era after blowout loss to Dallas

LA Times  

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard controls the ball during the first half of a 144-126 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Instead, it was the Dallas Mavericks’ regular hardwood design, the result of what the league called a “manufacturing issue.” When the Clippers left American Airlines Center late Friday, it was clear they, too, remain very much a work …

Clippers ‘skipped some steps’ last season and are determined to not do it again
1 year, 2 months ago

Clippers ‘skipped some steps’ last season and are determined to not do it again

New York Times  

HONOLULU — When LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue gathered his team for Tuesday’s first training camp practice, he laid out some guidelines to set a tone about accountability. “When you end the season on — I know we had injuries and everything — but when you end the season and you don’t accomplish your goal of winning a championship, …

Clippers conundrum: Pick up the pace while limiting turnovers
1 year, 2 months ago

Clippers conundrum: Pick up the pace while limiting turnovers

LA Times  

Russell Westbrook and Paul George, holding son Paul Vuk, will be integral in the Clippers’ trying to pick up the pace while limiting turnovers this season. “We’ve been a slow team over the course of the last three or four years, and just not really being high and pushing the pace until Russ got here at the end of the …

NBA: Los Angeles Clippers down Portland Trail Blazers to close in on playoff berth
1 year, 8 months ago

NBA: Los Angeles Clippers down Portland Trail Blazers to close in on playoff berth

Firstpost  

The Clippers moved into fifth place in the Western Conference with the same record as reigning champions Golden State Los Angeles: Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and Norman Powell added 23 off the bench as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers 136-125 to edge closer to an NBA playoff berth on Saturday. The Clippers win ensured that …

Clippers look to get back to winning ways against Chicago Bulls
1 year, 8 months ago

Clippers look to get back to winning ways against Chicago Bulls

The Hindu  

Coming off one of its most embarrassing defeats of the season, Los Angeles Clippers will try to maintain its grasp on a top-six spot in the Western Conference with a home matchup Monday night against Chicago Bulls. “We get stagnant at times trying to look for Kawhi, and when he doesn’t have a good one, we just have to continue …

Clippers’ blowout loss to Pelicans an ominous sign of critical week ahead
1 year, 9 months ago

Clippers’ blowout loss to Pelicans an ominous sign of critical week ahead

LA Times  

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, shoots in front of New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. during the first half of the Clippers’ 131-110 loss Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard left for the locker room with four minutes left in the third quarter after being elbowed in the face by Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram. Clippers guard Terance …

Clippers fall to 0-4 with Russell Westbrook after losing another double-digit lead
1 year, 9 months ago

Clippers fall to 0-4 with Russell Westbrook after losing another double-digit lead

LA Times  

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Ty Jerome, left, and forward Jonathan Kuminga during the first half on Thursday in San Francisco. The strategy of avoidance is not unique in Westbrook’s career, but was employed to this exaggerated extent for the first time since he joined the Clippers four games ago, and underscored the challenge of …

Clippers end trip 4-2 by beating Nets after failing to obtain Kyrie Irving from them
1 year, 10 months ago

Clippers end trip 4-2 by beating Nets after failing to obtain Kyrie Irving from them

LA Times  

The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard keeps the ball away from the long reach of the Nets’ Royce O’Neale on Monday night in Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving was the player Brooklyn no longer wanted, the guard the Clippers tried to get, the man who wasn’t there Monday night but had an inescapable presence. Instead, he now might be one for the Clippers and …

Clippers’ cold shooting and poor defense leads to blowout loss to Nuggets
1 year, 11 months ago

Clippers’ cold shooting and poor defense leads to blowout loss to Nuggets

LA Times  

Clippers forward Norman Powell, right, drives as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray defends during the second half on Thursday in Denver. “It’s one thing to lose,” center Ivica Zubac said, “and another thing to lose like this.” Just as he had 12 months earlier when the Clippers trailed Washington by 35 points, Lue benched his starters out of halftime. Clippers …

Clippers’ two identities: Failing to finish leads, unleashing a huge comeback
1 year, 11 months ago

Clippers’ two identities: Failing to finish leads, unleashing a huge comeback

New York Times  

If you have seen the movie “Friday,” then you’re familiar with Smokey and Deebo. • June 18, 2021, Game 6 vs. Utah Jazz: Clippers trail by 25 early in the third quarter, still clinch first Western Conference finals berth behind Terance Mann’s career game. Monday’s win marked the sixth time this season that the Clippers have won a game after …

Short-handed Clippers are no match against Suns
2 years ago

Short-handed Clippers are no match against Suns

LA Times  

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, right, lunges for the ball while Clippers forward Robert Covington drives to the basket during the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. Yet if the Clippers need Diabate for spot postseason minutes, one teammate said before tipoff, perhaps a straight line could be drawn to a night like this, when his NBA education was …

Clippers overcome slow start to hold off Timberwolves
2 years ago

Clippers overcome slow start to hold off Timberwolves

LA Times  

When all 7 feet 2 of Rudy Gobert toppled over and into Marcus Morris Sr. underneath the basket late in the fourth quarter, Clippers players all too familiar with injuries instinctively rushed over to their teammate sprawled on the court. The Timberwolves were abysmal from deep, making four of 22 to continue a Clippers’ defensive stand that has continued since …

Clippers stage huge rally but can’t finish it off in loss to Mavericks
2 years, 1 month ago

Clippers stage huge rally but can’t finish it off in loss to Mavericks

LA Times  

The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic handles the ball against the Clippers’ Paul George on Tuesday night. “That’s what we’ve been about the last three years,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of his team competing and coming back in games. And when you get behind by that many points, it’s hard to try to catch up and then you get exhausted.” Nicolas …

Clippers can’t keep pace with Pelicans, lose fourth in a row
2 years, 1 month ago

Clippers can’t keep pace with Pelicans, lose fourth in a row

LA Times  

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson powers his way for a layup against Clippers defenders Ivica Zubac and John Wall late in the game Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. Their offense ranks better than only the league-worst Lakers and only 37% of the Clippers’ shots have gone in when the closest defender is four feet or farther away — the NBA’s definition of …

‘We got to fix this quickly’: Clippers look to regroup after third straight loss
2 years, 1 month ago

‘We got to fix this quickly’: Clippers look to regroup after third straight loss

LA Times  

Before they left their subdued locker room Thursday night inside Paycom Center, the shine from their preseason championship aspirations temporarily smudged by a 2-3 start, the Clippers were steadfast that one week into the season is not enough time to begin panicking. “I think the beauty about us being older and playing multiple seasons is that we know we have …

Former Clippers teammate energizes team to big win over Rockets
2 years, 10 months ago

Former Clippers teammate energizes team to big win over Rockets

LA Times  

Wearing a sly smile and an Ivica Zubac jersey over his cream sweatshirt that draped well past his waist, Patrick Beverley walked to his sideline seat Thursday inside Crypto.com Arena. Beverley said he had not told his former Clippers teammates that he would be in attendance, one night after his Minnesota Timberwolves played their final game before the NBA’s All-Star …

Clippers roll past Timberwolves, Patrick Beverley for seventh straight win
3 years, 1 month ago

Clippers roll past Timberwolves, Patrick Beverley for seventh straight win

LA Times  

The Clippers’ Paul George, who had 23 points, shoots over the Timberwolves’ Jarred Vanderbilt at Staples Center. Paul George averaged 26.5 points in the first two games against Minnesota and he led the Clippers with 23 points and nine rebounds Saturday as six players scored in double figures. Point guard Reggie Jackson was the Clippers’ most efficient shooter in the …

Clippers rally from 17-point deficit to beat Heat and extend win streak
3 years, 1 month ago

Clippers rally from 17-point deficit to beat Heat and extend win streak

LA Times  

The Clippers seemed to be in the clear Thursday night when, with three minutes to go in the first quarter, Miami’s Bam Adebayo went to the bench. Dan Craig, the architect of a Clippers defense that entered Thursday allowing the league’s third-fewest points per 100 possessions, had designed Miami’s defenses during years as Spoelstra’s right-hand man before joining the Clippers …

NBA Playoffs: Paul George powers Clippers to win over Suns in third game of Western Conference finals
3 years, 6 months ago

NBA Playoffs: Paul George powers Clippers to win over Suns in third game of Western Conference finals

Firstpost  

It was a crucial victory for the Clippers as no team in NBA history has ever won a best-of-seven series after losing the first three games. Los Angeles: Paul George scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to power the Los Angeles Clippers over Phoenix 106-92 on Thursday, delivering their first victory in the NBA semi-final playoff series. We have …

Clippers go from cursed to franchise first in win over Jazz
3 years, 6 months ago

Clippers go from cursed to franchise first in win over Jazz

LA Times  

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley celebrates during a 131-119 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center on Friday. Clippers Clippers give capacity crowd something never seen before in Game 6 win over Jazz Staples Center had a capacity crowd Friday night for the first time since the pandemic began as fans …

NBA | Clippers thrash Lakers in LA showdown
3 years, 8 months ago

NBA | Clippers thrash Lakers in LA showdown

The Hindu  

Los Angeles Clippers didn't have to lean heavily on its superstar duo against the defending NBA champion on Sunday, getting help from the supporting cast in a 104-86 rout of the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers. The Clippers got a game-high 22 points from Marcus Morris while All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George finished with 19 and 16 points respectively. Elsewhere, …

Clippers claw back from 18 down to beat Heat
3 years, 10 months ago

Clippers claw back from 18 down to beat Heat

LA Times  

His hands covering his head, his body collapsed into a full crouch inside the pink-and-turquoise paint, Reggie Jackson realized his mistake immediately. Seeing teammate Marcus Morris struggle to pass out of a double team, 85 feet from his own basket, Jackson had called for a timeout with 27 seconds remaining in Thursday’s fourth quarter in Miami. Slowly rising from his …

Clippers collapse again as their playoff run ends with Game 7 loss to Nuggets
4 years, 3 months ago

Clippers collapse again as their playoff run ends with Game 7 loss to Nuggets

LA Times  

The hugs were quick, the goodbyes brief, the exit silent. Assembled 14 months ago with an explicit goal of winning a championship, the Clippers’ star-studded roster instead fell apart in stunning fashion in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal against Denver. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic is blocked by Clippers forward JaMychal Green as he tries to score during …

Clippers put it all together: Five takeaways from Game 1 win over Nuggets
4 years, 3 months ago

Clippers put it all together: Five takeaways from Game 1 win over Nuggets

LA Times  

It wouldn’t typically be notable that Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was far from effusive in a postgame interview. But his attitude was instructive following Thursday’s 120-97 Clippers win against Denver in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. “And I’m sure they will come back more prepared for Game 2.” In other words, beware the Nuggets, who have already …

Clippers vs. Nuggets: How the teams match up for playoff series
4 years, 3 months ago

Clippers vs. Nuggets: How the teams match up for playoff series

LA Times  

A look at how the No. 2-seeded Clippers and third-seeded Denver Nuggets match up for their second-round playoff series that starts Thursday: STARTERS Clippers / Denver Marcus Morris Sr., 6-8 | F | Paul Millsap, 6-7 Paul George, 6-8 | F | Jerami Grant, 6-8 Ivica Zubac, 7-0 | C | Nikola Jokic,; 7-0 Landry Shamet, 6-4 | G | …

Clippers showcase their growth in playoff win over Mavericks
4 years, 3 months ago

Clippers showcase their growth in playoff win over Mavericks

LA Times  

Kawhi Leonard’s stoic expression rarely changes, no matter the circumstances on the court. “You know, I’ve been fortunate enough to get to where teams want to get to and win it.” Putting his modesty aside, Leonard permitted himself a brief smile when he returned to the bench with a team-high 33 points late in the Clippers’ 111-97 victory over the …

Clippers let Mavericks slip away in Game 2 to tie up series
4 years, 4 months ago

Clippers let Mavericks slip away in Game 2 to tie up series

LA Times  

The second game of the Clippers’ postseason began Wednesday with an irreplaceable player missing from their lineup. The Clippers’ 127-114 loss to Dallas in Game 2 of their now-even first-round series wasn’t the result of falling behind 15-2 within the first quarter’s first five minutes, though that stretch — which came only two days after the Clippers opened Game 1 …

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