After a rough 6-21 start, the Los Angeles Clippers are fighting their way back into playoff contention, despite facing trade issues with James Harden and an ongoing NBA investigation. However, a recent loss after a big lead was a significant setback.
They had won three games in a row and held a 25-point lead against the San Antonio Spurs halfway through the third quarter. But thanks to a strong comeback led by Victor Wembanyama and a critical late-game mistake, the Clippers lost 116-112, pushing them further down in the standings.
L.A. Clippers have a small margin for error
Kawhi Leonard had a standout performance with 30 points and nine rebounds in the game against the Spurs, marking his third game with over 30 points in the last six outings. He scored half of his team’s points in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Despite his efforts, the Clippers are still two games under .500.
This loss keeps them two games behind the Golden State Warriors for eighth place, which is critical for postseason hopes. Finishing ninth means they would need to win two play-in games to make the playoffs, rather than having two opportunities to secure a single win. This places them in a likely matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have already defeated the Clippers twice by an average of 20 points.
They had a chance to close the gap with the Warriors on Friday. Even after the Spurs’ comeback, the Clippers were down by just one point, but Nicolas Batum made a costly error by failing to step onto the court before receiving a return pass on an inbound play.