213hoops.com
Clippers vs. Rockets Game Recap: It’s playoff time
The LA Clippers dropped their final regular season game, 116-105 against the visiting Houston Rockets.
Summary
With the Clippers having already locked up the fourth seed in the Western Conference, Sunday’s matinee regular season finale was another opportunity for the young guys to get playing time.
In addition to Kawhi Leonard being out, the Clippers also sat Paul George, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell and Bones Hyland. PJ Tucker didn’t play after halftime and Terance Mann didn’t play after the fourth quarter.
It was the Xavier Moon and Brandon Boston Jr. show with a little Amir Coffey, Kobe Brown and Daniel Theis. The bigger story of the game though was it being the Clippers last regular season game ever at Crypto.com Arena/Staples Center before the move to Intuit Dome.
During a stoppage in the game, the Clippers played a tribute video thanking the fans and highlighting the past 25 years. They also honored several former players including Lou Williams, Baron Davis, Quentin Richardason, Darius Miles and Lamar Odom, all of whom were present.
The fans were allowed two free food items and a non-alcoholic beverage as well as a Steve Ballmer bobblehead. Despite the Clippers loss, it was a fun time for all.
But following the game, talk quickly turned to the Clippers upcoming playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks. In place of head coach Tyronn Lue, associate head coach Dan Craig fulfilled postgame media responsibilities.
“You have two elite scorers and attackers. So it’ll be a challenge for sure. Our staff has already dove into it the last couple of days knowing that we’re locked in to play them,” Craig said about Dallas after the game. “We’re getting ready for a lot of different coverages, just getting ready for both of those guys being on the floor together. . .when you have both those attackers out there, you’re forced to make some tough decisions and read the game in terms of how they’re playing.”
Clippers vs. Rockets Game Recap: It’s playoff time
David Yapkowitz