Shorthanded Clippers battle but fall to Bucks
LOS ANGELES » They were missing three familiar faces and that didn't include Kawhi Leonard, who sat out Friday's game against Milwaukee.
Yet the Clippers made the most of the changes after trades left them shorthanded. They tried out rookie Brandon Boston Jr. in place of Leonard in the starting lineup, gave significant minutes to Amir Coffey and Robert Covington, and relied on Paul George for 28 minutes.
But that didn't alter the outcome. For three quarters, the Clippers stayed close to the Milwaukee Bucks but couldn't keep pace in the final quarter, eventually losing 119-106 at Crypto.com Arena.
The new players – center Mason Plumlee, guard Bones Hyland and guard Eric Gordon joined their Clippers teammates on the bench, watching what lie ahead for them. Plumlee saw how he could help center Ivica Zubac, who had just six points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes.
Both Gordon and Hyland no doubt saw opportunities where their ball-handling skills would be beneficial as the Clippers collected 10 turnovers.
“I hope it's not going to be too difficult (to fit the new players into the system),” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “I think with Mason and with Gordon, they've been around. They've seen pretty much all of the defenses, all the offenses that teams run in the NBA. So, they should be able to come in and fit right in.”
Lue said Hyland is a scorer, who can make plays and passes and shoot. The Clippers could have used an extra set of hands in the fourth quarter as the Bucks turned a close game into a 13-point victory.
Paul George did what he could, scoring 19 points on 8 of 23 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds. On a series of back-and-forth baskets in the third quarter, George buried a 23-footer with 7:05 left, eclipsing 16,000 career points, making him one of 10 active players with at least that many.
Norman Powell added 16 points, but had only one 3-pointer, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 15 points.
Boston Jr. made the most of his first NBA start with 20 points and two rebounds.
George's long 3-pointer gave the Clippers a brief 6362 lead in the third quarter. Make that very brief.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had been fairly quiet in the first half, turned up his game, sparking a 13-6 run that gave the Bucks a 7368 lead. The Bucks forward scored nine points of his 35 points in the third as the Bucks carried an 81-76 lead into the final quarter.
The Bucks had considered resting Antetokounmpo on the second night of a back-to-back, listing him as probable to play against the Clippers.
But Coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game the two-time MVP would be playing.