The LA Clippers returned home after a 6-1 roadtrip only to lose to New Orleans & Minnesota- Feb. 2024

Feb 7th

The Clippers returned home from their Grammy road trip after winning six of seven and were playing great basketball. That came to a screeching halt as the New Orleans pelicans took it to them a Crypto.com Arena. Paul George played a dreadful game going 3-15 and Kawhi Leonard was average for himself and they could never get over the hump after falling behind in the first half.  Harden let the team with 19 pts while star sub Powell had 18 pts.   Plumlee played some key minutes and had 11 pts.

Coach Tyler tried different lineups, but the team that has had the best record in the NBA since December 1 played lackluster. Pelicans are led by CJ McCollum with 25 pts with 10-17 and Trey Murphy the third. Star Zion Williamson had a slow first half but came on big in the second half during a stretch and the third and start of the fourth quarter to help visitors pull away as he ended with 21 points. The Clippers hurt themselves with 19 turnovers, defensive, lapses, and missed open shots. Luckily was only one game and they’re back at home versus the worst team in the league, Detroit, this weekend before a big showdown with western conference leading Minnesota on Monday, February 12.

The team dropped to 34-16 while New Orleans improved to 30-21.   Pelican’s coach Willie Green implemented a great game plan, Lue said, as he had his 2 top defenders Jones defending Harden while they double teamed Leonard.  That put the pressure on the rest of the team to make open shots which they didn’t.  Zubac had 12 pts after sitting out the last game of the road trip as he finally returned from his injury recently.

Feb. 12th

It was a showdown of two of the top teams in the Western Conference as the Minnesota Timberwolves visited the Clippers at crypto.com arena. It was a close first half and the Clippers went  on a big run. They took a four-point lead at halftime but in the third quarter, the Wolves started taking control and coach Ty Lou went to a small lineup.  They tried to hang in there but they were no match for the bigger Timberwolves, who were led by Anthony Edwards with 23 points and their two big men, Rudy Gobert (17 pts and 11 rebounds and Carl Anthony Townes (24 pts. dominated & scored many inside baskets. Alexander-Walker had 15 pts and Naz Reid had 11 pts. off the bench to also ignite the visitors and they blew out the Clippers in the fourth quarter. James Harden let the team at 17 points but besides the big four, their bench was no match for Minnesota and only had 10 points. It was our second loss in the last three home games after barely beating Detroit over the weekend.  The final was 121-100

More at www.nba.com/clippers