No coach, no problem as Clippers rise up to beat NBA-leading Cavaliers

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Clippers guard Norman Powell shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers forwards Isaac Okoro, left, and Evan Mobley defend during the first half. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

The test for the Clippers came from the team many consider the best in the NBA, the team many consider a title contender, the team with the best record in the league, three All-Stars and an All-Star coach.

The test for the Clippers came from the team that’s second in scoring (122.5 points), second in field-goal percentage (49.2), first in three-point shooting percentage (38.8) and has seven players averaging double-digit points.

That’s what the Clippers were up against when they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Intuit Dome on Tuesday night, and they had to do it without coach Tyronn Lue, who missed the game because of recurring back pain.

The Clippers passed that test, proving during a 132-119 win that this tough, gritty team can play with and beat the best.

Read more: ‘I never doubted it’: James Harden returns to All-Star level

They won their fourth straight game behind the strength from Ivica Zubac’s powerful double-double of 29 points and 20 rebounds on his 28th birthday.

They won it behind Kawhi Leonard’s efficient 33 points on 12-for-18 shooting, including five for six from three-point range.

They won it behind James Harden’s 22 points and nine assists, Bogdan Bodanovic’s 20 points and seven assists and Derrick Jones Jr.’s 10 points.

And they won it behind a defense that became stingy in the second half, during which the Clippers held the high-scoring Cavaliers to 46 points.

Read more: James Harden and Clippers dominate Hornets for third straight win

The Clippers struggled to contain the Cavaliers in the first half, giving up 73 points on 56.5% shooting including 50% from three-point range. The Clippers stayed close because their offense was on point, leaving them down by just five points after the first 24 minutes.

Clippers assistant Brian Shaw, who took over for Lue in his absence, said this was the kind of game that should get his group’s “juices flowing a little bit more.” Cleveland entered the game with an NBA-best 56-11…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/no-coach-no-problem-clippers-052126106.html

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Publish date : 2025-03-19 05:21:00

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