Clippers coach Tyronn Lue dismissed the notion his team would overlook their short-handed opponent Wednesday night inside Staples Center.
“It’s definitely a dangerous game,” Lue said before tipoff against New Orleans, which was missing three starters, “and we’re definitely keeping our team alert that, you know, just because guys are out it’s not going to be an easy game.”
The coach was correct. Despite an 18-point halftime lead, the Clippers needed a scoring burst from Kawhi Leonard to keep the Pelicans at bay in a 111-106 that improved the Clippers to 8-4. Here are three takeaways from the game:
Clippers bottled up on the boards
New Orleans’ defensive strategy is only one of their defining characteristics under coach Stan Van Gundy.