This is two big setbacks for the Clippers. Just before the All-Star Game cut off, they lost to Minnesota. There, for this recovery, it’s in Oklahoma City. A logical defeat as the Thunder were more solid and sharp, especially in defense.
“In the third quarter, they ran, played harder. We lost balls and we were dominated in transition,” remarks Kawhi Leonard. “Overall, they were on pace and we weren’t able to get them out of it,” regrets Paul George.
Dominated after the break, the Clippers tried to come back until the end. There was a small window to play in the last quarter, with twelve points behind with six minutes to go. But Tyronn Lue hardly believed it, since Kawhi Leonard only played 23 seconds in the last act…
“We can come back to six or four points and still lose the match, so these are wasted minutes for me,” the coach justifies himself. “When they were +16 with four minutes remaining, it was over. We move on to the next match, this Friday in Memphis. »
Is first place no longer a priority?
Except that this setback has an influence for the rest of the regular season and future playoffs. Because before this meeting, the two teams were one victory away. The Thunder therefore leads 2-1 and there will be no other duels. Oklahoma City therefore has the “tiebreaker” on its side, if the two franchises end up with the same record in two months. Which is far from impossible given the rankings: OKC is at 38-17, Los Angeles at 36-18.
“It was an important match in this tiebreaker affair,” recalls Tyronn Lue, while his men are also down 2-0 against Wolves (39-16) before the last two matches. “The Thunder has been playing well since the start of the season and we have also had good moments this season. Therefore, I don't see it as a barometer match. The benchmark will be the playoffs. »
Have the Clippers, who were aiming for first place in the West, lowered their ambitions after these two defeats against the two best teams in the conference? “Obviously we want to finish with the best possible place in the standings, but above all we need to play well until the end of the season”answers Paul George.
