Clippers’ Late Rally Fizzles in Loss to Suns
Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while John Collins added 19 points in the short-handed team’s 114-103 defeat. Kawhi Leonard missed his third consecutive game due to a sprained injury.
Team Struggles and Coach's Assessment
The Clippers recognize the need for improvement across several areas to rise above a .500 record. Defense, team chemistry, and reducing turnovers are key focus points. Coach Tyronn Lue said,
“We got to play better. We got to do things better, starting with the coaches and everybody. We all gotta look ourselves in the mirror.”
Game Recap and Challenges
The team continues to face self-made challenges, including injuries and falling behind by double-digit deficits. On Saturday night, after being 18 points down, the Clippers staged a comeback but ultimately fell short against the Phoenix Suns, losing 114-103 at the Intuit Dome. This marked their fourth straight loss and third consecutive defeat at home.
“When it gets tough, we got to get tougher and so I liked our fight back,”Lue remarked.
“I thought we did a good job of not letting go of the rope tonight.”
Though not flawless, the Clippers nearly avenged their Thursday road loss to the Suns. Trailing 104-96, Kris Dunn scored on a layup and James Harden added a free throw after a technical foul, narrowing the gap to 104-99.
Author’s summary: The Clippers showed resilience despite injuries and setbacks but must improve on defense and teamwork to avoid repeated losses.