Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue praised his team’s ability to withstand a late Lakers rally during Thursday’s 112-104 win at the Intuit Dome.
“I thought our guys just stayed the course and found a way to win the game,” Lue said, reflecting on the team’s composure after the Lakers cut a 26-point deficit to two midway through the fourth quarter.
Lue emphasized the importance of limiting turnover. “We’ve got to take better care of the basketball. We were up by 26, LeBron gets an offensive rebound, makes a three, we turn the basketball over, they score again, and then they got some kind of momentum right outside of our turnover.”
The coach praised Ivica Zubac for his presence as a big man against a smaller Lakers lineup. “His ability to clean up missed shots around the basket, a couple kickouts for three, was huge for us,” Lue said. Zubac finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard returned from injury and scored 24 points. Lue described his performance as strong despite the limited minutes. “I thought he looked really good. Especially to start the game in that first quarter, he had good pop,” Lue said.
The Clippers relied on depth and balanced scoring, with seven players reaching double figures. Lue selected John Collins for clutch plays down the stretch. “JC just stayed the course. He didn’t get a lot of shots early, but he made three big game-winning plays… those are huge baskets for us,” he said.
Lue also highlighted contributions from younger players. “Just good learning experiences for him and for Kobe as well. Our young guys get an opportunity to play and take full advantage of that,” he said, referring to Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders.
Despite the victory, Lue admitted he wanted a more decisive result. “We’ve got a team down 19.5, you know, we’ve got to kick their throats and blow them out… we’ve got to be better,” he said.
Lue praised his team’s energy and execution despite defensive pressure from the Lakers. “In the first half I thought we were very good. Just keep trusting the pass and making the right play,” he said. James Harden added 18 points and 10 assists, helping the Clippers perform efficiently.
Lue reflected on the heated moments late in the game, including an incident between Zubac and Vanderbilt. “When he comes into the game … he always comes in and changes the game for him. Every time we have a big lead, he changes the game when he comes in,” Lue said.
Thursday’s win improves the Clippers to 20-24, marking their seventh win in eight games, while the Lakers fall to 26-17. Los Angeles hosts the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, while the Lakers begin a six-game road trip against the Mavericks.
#Tyronn #Lue #praises #Clippers #resilience #depth #beating #Lakers #TalkBasket.net