Clippers’ Late Rally Fizzles Out in Loss to Suns
Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while John Collins contributed 19 points in their 114-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Clippers played without Kawhi Leonard, who missed his third consecutive game due to a sprained ankle.
Team Struggles and Coach's Assessment
The Clippers are not panicking, but they recognize the need for improvement. Coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the importance of better defense, stronger team chemistry, and reducing turnovers to surpass a .500 record.
"We got to play better," Coach Lue said. "We got to do things better, starting with the coaches and everybody. We all gotta look ourselves in the mirror."
The team continues to face challenges with injuries and falling behind by double-digit deficits. Despite an 18-point comeback attempt on Saturday, they fell short for the fourth straight loss and third consecutive home defeat at the Intuit Dome.
Game Highlights
Trailing 104-96 late in the game, Kris Dunn scored a layup and James Harden made a free throw following a technical foul, reducing the deficit to 104-99. Coach Lue appreciated the team's resilience despite the loss.
"When it gets tough, we got to get tougher and so I liked our fight back," Lue said. "I thought we did a good job of not letting go of the rope tonight."
Upcoming Focus
The Clippers aim to resolve their internal issues and improve performance to break their current losing streak and build a stronger team going forward.
Author's summary: The Clippers showed fight but still face key challenges in defense, chemistry, and injury management as they aim to break their losing streak.