The LA Clippers shake the NBA with another comeback victory

Over the last seven games, the LA Clippers have battled through trials and tribulations. Head coach Tyronn Lue has sparked two different win streaks during this time frame, proving how pivotal the entire roster can be. In addition, the Clippers have been without the superstar duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the last four contests.

Furthermore, one of these match-ups was against the Portland Trail Blazers. After being down by 18 points, Lue’s ‘battle until the end’ mindset paved the way for another exceptional comeback. Not to mention the coaching staff made a surprising move late in the game, which ultimately shifted momentum for the LA Clippers.

Second-round draft pick, Moussa Diabaté, got his first taste of quality minutes late in the second half for the Clippers. This decision to play Diabaté the entire fourth quarter stunned Portland as they could not find any rhythm on offense. Although he only finished with three points and four boards, Diabaté’s defensive capacities showed Lue how valuable he could be down the line.

Additionally, the young point guard, Jason Preston, scored his first NBA basket for the LA Clippers. Lue noticed that Diabaté and Preston dominated the G-League and decided to call them up at the perfect time. This goes to show how elite of a head coach Lue can be, even though his squad is severely shorthanded.

The LA Clippers’ win over Portland was a perfect example of a team battle.

The primary star in the LA Clippers’ victory over the Trail Blazers was the slashing wing, Norman Powell. During the first half, Powell struggled to knock shots down. These miscues did not last long as he exploded in the second half, ending the game with 32 points and four rebounds on 10-16 shooting.

Furthermore, play-making point guard Reggie Jackson made another case for his best game of the season. He was one of the leaders in the comeback win as he closed the night with 22 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds in 41 minutes of playing time. Jackson also made several shots, allowing the Clippers to obtain a groove late in the game.

As the LA Clippers were without countless rotational pieces, this win displays how important roster depth can be in an 82-game season. Lue has the perfect set of players around him, which puts the team in the best position to win games. That said, opponents will face hardships trying to compete with the Clippers once they regain an injury-free roster.

Nonetheless, the LA Clippers take a trip to Salt Lake City for their third match-up of the season against the Utah Jazz. As observed before, the Jazz are immensely talented and have what it takes to hang with a team like the Clippers. Lue will have to dig deep and utilize the film room in order to push the win streak to three games.