INGLEWOOD — Looking ahead to the Clippers’ next five games, four of which are at home, there are some stiff challenges.
After playing the Sacramento Kings (8-24) on Tuesday and the Utah Jazz (12-19) on Thursday, the team faces the Boston Celtics (19-12), the Golden State Warriors (16-16) and then the New York Knicks (22-9) on the road. Daunting, but the Clippers have developed some momentum with their recent play.
Few would have predicted that this rejuvenated Clippers team would beat the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons and the talented Houston Rockets in the past week as part of a head-turning four-game winning streak.
What’s behind the sudden turnaround that has led to a string of victories after losing 10 of their previous 11 games? It depends on who you ask.
Point guard James Harden gave reserve center Brook Lopez the credit for what he brings to the court.
Lopez moved into the starting lineup when Ivica Zubac went down with an ankle injury against the Lakers on Dec. 21 and has been a solid addition. He has averaged 13.5 points, including a 31-point outburst against the Portland Trail Blazers, and 5.7 rebounds while blocking seven shots during the team’s winning streak.
“Defensively, his communication, him contesting shots at the rim, his shot-making ability, spacing. A combination of those things has helped us overall as a team offensively,” Harden said.
Lopez’s play inside has helped the Clippers take major steps in re-establishing their defensive identity as well. Over the past four games, the Clippers have the fourth-best defense in the NBA, according to The Athletic, holding those opponents to an average of 99.5 points per game.
They also are forcing a league-high 12.2 turnovers per game over this stretch.
“I think defensively, we’ve been pretty solid all year,” Coach Tyronn Lue said after beating the Rockets. “We have some little lulls, but I think every team has that. But just offensively, we’ve been more fluent and more together, if that makes sense. And offensive defense goes hand-in-hand.”
Lue praised veteran guard Kris Dunn for his point of attack on defense and Lopez for his job at the rim.
“Brook has done a great job just protecting at the rim. He’s been up on pick and rolls, not allowing guys to get downhill,” Lue said.
Two of the Clippers’ recent victories have come after career-best nights by Kawhi Leonard and Lopez. Leonard scored a career-high 55 points to go with 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots in the 112-99 victory over the Pistons to become the third player in NBA history to have those numbers.
Leonard, who has averaged 39 points in the past four games, said he is trying to make as many 3-point shots as possible, draining 15 of 38 (39.7%).
“If I go whatever, 0 for 12 or 7 for 12, whatever that is, it’s going to turn out to just make me better even if I’m taking a step back percentage-wise,” Leonard said. “So, that’s the goal and I’m going to keep going for it.”
Lopez, a 15-year veteran, put on a show against the Blazers with a career-high nine 3-pointers to spur the Clippers to a 119-103 road win.
Despite the smiles that have surfaced around the locker room, Leonard, as usual, put a sobering spin on their winning streak. Afterall, at 10-21, the Clippers are far from being a .500 team.
“I’m happy we are on the W side, but you know where our record is now and it’s still a mountain to climb,” Leonard said. “And like I said, every time we step on a court, we’re going to compete. This is a basketball game, no matter how many losses or wins we get. We are grown men, we love the game and we got to go out there and compete every time we step on the floor.”
KINGS AT CLIPPERS
When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Where: Intuit Dome
TV/Radio: FDSN SoCal, 570 AM, 1330 AM