Slowly and intentionally, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue climbed the steps to the rostrum for his postgame information convention and plopped down in his chair. He shook his head.
“I’m drained,” Lue stated.
And so have been his gamers.
The Clippers’ fatigue was evident Saturday in how they blew a 14-point lead towards the Toronto Raptors on the Intuit Dome. Their weariness confirmed in how James Harden and Norman Powell missed three of the workforce’s six free throws down the stretch. Their exhaustion confirmed after heavy minutes for Harden, Powell and Ivica Zubac pushed them to their restrict.
In the end, the Clippers escaped with a 105-103 win that was determined within the ultimate seconds.
Learn extra: Norman Powell continues to shine, scoring 31 in Clippers’ win over Kings
The Clippers have performed 4 video games in six days. In 10 video games this season, they’ve performed three units of back-to-backs.
They gained their fourth consecutive recreation, but it surely took Harden taking part in over 34 minutes to get 24 factors, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Powell performed 35:03 to get his 24 factors and Zubac performed 38:20 to get 14 factors and 12 rebounds. It additionally took stellar protection by Terance Mann for the Clippers to shut out with a win.
“I knew just a few of our guys have been drained,” Lue stated. “However this was one we needed to battle via mentally. I do know Norm was drained from the soar and what he has been doing for us offensively. We wanted each minute he might give us tonight, and I do know he was drained. Zu was a bit drained. However we needed to win this recreation.
“We’ll fear about tomorrow, tomorrow. However right this moment was a winnable recreation. We’re up so we needed to end the sport out and guys needed to play a bit bit extra minutes than you prefer to on a back-to-back, however we would have liked the win.”
After Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley tied the rating 102-102 on a three-pointer with 39 seconds left, the Clippers retook the lead when Powell made a free throw seconds later. Again on protection, Mann rose to the event, blocking a shot by Quickley.
Just a few seconds later, Harden was fouled. However Harden additionally made only one free throw. He completed simply 5 for 17 from the sector and two for eight from the three-point line.
“We had a tricky schedule,” Harden stated. “However we make some good cash to go on the market and play the sport that we love. So, we simply acquired to determine methods to win video games.
“It ain’t nothing… I don’t know what you need me to say so far as…. , tomorrow we journey, go to OKC and play one other one. Like, that is the NBA.”
With the Clippers clinging to a two level lead, Mann got here up massive once more on protection, forcing RJ Barrett to overlook a shot. However as a substitute of sealing the sport when he was fouled, Powell missed one other free throw, making it 105-102 with 8.7 seconds left.
That left the door open for yet another alternative for the Raptors.
After Toronto middle Jakob Poeltl drew a foul and made his first free throw, he deliberately missed his second free throw. He tried to attain on a putback, however his shot missed and Zubac corralled the rebound with 2.5 seconds left. He handed it to Harden, who threw it down courtroom as time expired.
“Within the recreation for me tonight, I used to be a bit drained, a bit fatigued from final recreation,” Powell stated about Friday evening’s recreation in Sacramento. “T Lue noticed it, however the coaches have been telling me simply play the sport the suitable method, don’t should drive something and I simply stored telling myself to remain within the second and discover a method.”
When will Kawhi Leonard return?
Lue was requested if Kawhi Leonard, who hasn’t performed this season due to irritation in his proper knee, would journey with the Clippers on their three-game journey that opens Monday towards Oklahoma Metropolis. He was brief along with his reply.
“Uh, no,” Lue stated.
Lue stated he wasn’t certain if middle Mo Bamba, who hasn’t performed this season due to a knee damage, would play throughout the journey. Bamba has been progressing and taking part in in five-on-five and three-on-three periods, Lue stated.
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.
