Tyronn Lue focused on the process over the results after the Los Angeles Clippers exited for a 118-101 win against the Utah Jazz late Thursday night at Intuit Dome.
Los Angeles attempted 51 3-pointers, the second-most in franchise history, and Lue said volume itself wasn’t the problem. “If they’re good shots, you know, the good shots, you know, then you’ve got to make those shots,” Lue said, adding that missed looks fueled Utah’s transition offense.
The Clippers built a 21-point lead in the first quarter before letting the Jazz back into the game, and Lue pointed out defensive slippage once the shots stopped falling. “Once we missed shots, we let it affect our defense,” he said. “We didn’t like basketball. We weren’t physical.”
Utah scored 58 points in the paint, a number that stood out in the coaching staff’s postgame. “Back cuts, offensive rebounds, you know, getting to the basket, and we didn’t do a good job of that,” Lue said in looking at how the Jazz found rhythm.
The head coach praised Utah’s approach and highlighted the impact of Isaiah Collier. “He’s fast, he’s explosive, he’s strong, and you know, he causes a lot of chaos when he goes downhill,” Lue said, noting how penetration forced rotations and opened up space.
As the game heated up, the Clippers leaned heavily on Kawhi Leonard, who finished with 45 points and scored 20 in the fourth quarter. “Of course Kawhi came along tonight and saved us again,” Lue said.
Leonard attempted 29 shots and 16 three-pointers, numbers that reflect a shift in his offensive profile. “Taking away threes off the dribble is what he implemented this past year,” Lue said. “It’s something he’s been working on. So we need those recordings.”
Lue emphasized that the change is rooted more in Leonard’s development than roster construction. When asked directly, he replied, “Yes sir,” confirming that evolution was intentional.
The coach also praised the energy of the young contributors, especially Yanic Konan Niederhauser. “For Yanic to have 10, 11 rebounds … six offensive rebounds, just playing hard and just great energy,” Lue said of the rookie’s extended run in the fourth quarter.
According to Lue, John Collins’ impact was mainly on defense. “The reason we got that big lead was because of him defensively,” he said, citing rim protection, rebounding and activity as tone setters.
The victory capped a stretch in which Los Angeles has matched its total of wins from the first months of the season. Lue credited humility and daily work. “Keep doing the work… keep piling up days,” he said.
Despite the six-game winning streak, Lue emphasized patience. “We’re working towards it,” he said when asked if he could be a consistently good team player.
Los Angeles hosts the Boston Celtics on Saturday, while Utah continues its road trip against the Golden State Warriors.
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