Only in hindsight did the Clippers’ last visit to New Orleans become a good memory.
Because in the moment, on March 14, nothing felt productive during a 20-point loss that landed with a thud so soon after their uneven play entering the NBA’s All-Star break. The Clippers’ sin that day wasn’t so much their turnovers or three-point shooting, but the fact they’d been routed while offering little resistance. Coach Tyronn Lue was incensed afterward.
Five weeks later, during his return Monday to Smoothie King Center, Lue still seemed upset by it.
“I just didn’t think we had the right mindset coming into the game,” he said.