INGLEWOOD — After shedding by one level to the Minnesota Timberwolves six days in the past, Clippers middle Ivica Zubac mentioned, “We’re loopy. We expect we should always have received this match. We thought we performed effectively sufficient to win. And we will not wait to see them once more.
Seems the Clippers might have waited. Perhaps one other week or a month. Or at the very least till a few of their gamers return to the lineup.
With out Norman Powell and 4 different rotation gamers, the Clippers did not have a lot to supply within the second straight recreation and have been crushed by the Timberwolves, 108-80, Wednesday night time at Intuit Dome. The 28-point loss ended the Clippers’ nine-game dwelling successful streak.
Powell sat out to relaxation his left hamstring after scoring 30 factors in a win over Portland on Tuesday.
Terance Mann, who fractured the center finger of his left hand throughout Tuesday’s recreation, may have surgical procedure Thursday and might be out at the very least three weeks.
Kobe Brown has been recognized with a herniated disc and might be re-evaluated in two weeks. Kevin Porter Jr., who scored 17 factors towards the Timberwolves on Nov. 30 earlier than spraining his proper ankle, missed his third recreation and All-Star ahead Kawhi Leonard has but to play this season as he’s tending to his surgically repaired knee.
With so many gamers out, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned nothing actually modifications in addition to the faces.
“Regardless of who’s on the ground each night time, we wish to play laborious, be aggressive on the defensive finish,” Lue mentioned.
Solely the Clippers did not do any of these issues towards the youthful, extra athletic Timberwolves on Wednesday.
It wasn’t a recreation Lue needed to recollect.
“I am chasing him,” Lue mentioned after watching the Timberwolves fully expose all the nice issues the Clippers had accomplished over the previous month.
“We simply didn’t have a variety of pop,” Lue mentioned. “We have been lacking three of our 4 rotation gamers they usually simply got here out and performed effectively. Julius (Randle) bought them going, bought them off to a very good begin and we could not rating the ball.
“So it is just a little robust if you’re enjoying from behind, you possibly can’t rating, you possibly can’t make a shot, you do not have a variety of pop they usually got here out and took benefit early on. … They got here and punched us within the mouth and we weren’t prepared to depart.
The shorthanded Clippers (14-10) could not do a lot after enjoying three video games in 4 nights. Not one of the key gamers stayed to speak concerning the lopsided loss, leaving Lue to clarify why the Clippers lacked the identical depth they did six nights in the past in Minnesota when the sport was right down to the ultimate minute. This half was shortly misplaced.
“I believe enjoying daily or each different day for the entire month of November was a troublesome schedule, however our guys fought by way of it,” Lue mentioned, noting they performed 24 video games in 43 days.
Nevertheless, the Clippers could not battle this time.
James Harden was scoreless within the first half till he made two free throws with seven-tenths of a second remaining. He failed to attach on seven photographs, together with 4 3-pointers. After scoring 23 factors on Tuesday, he completed with 5 factors, three rebounds and three assists.
Little-used Bones Hyland got here off the bench and scored 18 factors to guide the Clippers. Derrick Jones Jr. had 14 factors, as did Amir Coffey (4 rebounds). Zubac had 4 factors and 10 rebounds.
The Clippers shot 28.6% within the first half. And once they did not miss photographs, they turned the ball over (13).
In the meantime, the younger Timberwolves have been rolling. Randle, who averages 21 factors, scored all 20 of his factors within the first half and 16 within the first quarter as Minnesota took a 59-32 halftime lead. Minnesota doubled its result in 76-37 with 7:07 left within the third quarter.
On the finish of that interval, Jones was on the bench with a big ice pack on his proper thigh, the Clippers trailed by 36 factors and G League participant Trentyn Flowers was enjoying his first recreation of the season.
The sport didn’t enhance for the Clippers because the Timberwolves continued to search out the basket whereas holding strain on their opponent. Minnesota shot 48.2% from the sector, together with 36.4% from 3-point vary.
The Clippers, who shot 34.9 % from the sector, turned the ball over 23 occasions, resulting in 29 factors for Minnesota. The Timberwolves additionally recorded 15 steals, giving them a 32-8 benefit on quick break factors (20-0 within the first half).
“Like I mentioned, Minnesota got here in and performed effectively,” Lue mentioned. “…We simply did not play effectively and it was in all probability one of many solely video games all season the place we simply could not rating, we could not defend and we have been at all times gradual. So, it occurs.
Initially printed:
