Clippers’ Late Rally Falls Short in Loss to Suns
Ivica Zubac led the Los Angeles Clippers with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while John Collins added 19 points in their 114-103 defeat to the Phoenix Suns. Kawhi Leonard missed his third consecutive game due to a sprained injury, leaving the team short-handed once again.
Coach’s Perspective and Team Challenges
“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,” said Coach Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers continue to battle inconsistency and frequent injuries, which have contributed to their recent struggles. Despite managing to erase an 18-point deficit at the Intuit Dome, they ultimately ran out of steam and dropped their fourth straight game – their third consecutive home loss.
Fighting Back but Falling Short
“When it gets tough, we got to get tougher and so I liked our fight back,” Lue added. “I thought we did a good job of not letting go of the rope tonight.”
The Clippers showed resilience late in the game, nearly avenging their earlier road defeat to the Suns. With the score at 104-96, Kris Dunn scored on a layup and James Harden sank a free throw following a technical foul, bringing the Clippers to within five points at 104-99. However, the comeback stalled and the Suns closed out the game.
Key Points
- Ivica Zubac recorded a team-high 21 points and 15 rebounds.
- Kawhi Leonard missed his third straight game due to injury.
- The Clippers have now lost four in a row, including three at home.
- Coach Tyronn Lue emphasized accountability and toughness.
Author’s Summary: The Clippers showed flashes of resilience but couldn’t sustain momentum, suffering their fourth straight defeat as injuries and inconsistency continue to haunt them.