Clippers’ Late Rally Falls Short in Loss to Suns
Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 21 points and 15 rebounds, while John Collins contributed 19 points in the short-handed team’s 114-103 defeat. Kawhi Leonard missed his third consecutive game due to a sprained ankle.
Need for Improvement Highlighted
The Clippers are aware of their flaws and are not panicking, but they must improve defense, build stronger team chemistry, and reduce turnovers to rise above a .500 record.
“We got to play better,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “We got to do things better, starting with the coaches and everybody. We all gotta look at ourselves in the mirror.”
Ongoing Challenges
The team continues to struggle with self-inflicted issues, injuries, and overcoming double-digit deficits. On Saturday night at the Intuit Dome, the Clippers battled back from an 18-point deficit but were ultimately unable to overcome the Phoenix Suns for the fourth straight loss, marking their third consecutive defeat at home.
“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.”
Game Highlights
Despite mistakes, the Clippers nearly avenged their loss from Thursday’s game against the Suns. Facing a 104-96 deficit in the rematch, Kris Dunn scored a layup and James Harden converted a free throw after a technical foul, cutting the Suns’ lead to 104-99.
Author’s Summary: The Clippers showed resilience but still face key challenges in defense and teamwork as they seek to break their losing streak and improve this season.
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