Rowan Kavner
Score: TOR 91 – LAC 80
Summary: Not even a 20-2 second-half run could make up for the Clippers’ sluggish start in an early game Sunday afternoon.
They dug themselves too great a hole to crawl out with as many turnovers (13) as field goals (13) in the first half, and a seventh loss in nine games followed as a 29-point halftime deficit to the Raptors was too much to overcome.
Next Game: 11/24
The Clippers looked out of sorts in the first half, with the Raptors going on a 23-4 run and handing the Clippers’ their lowest scoring total in a half this season and their largest deficit of the year.
A strong third quarter followed for the Clippers, something head coach Doc Rivers wanted to see more of this season, allowing just eight points in the third quarter after allowing at least 30 eac hof the first two quarters, but the damage was already too severe.
After cutting the deficit to six points midway through the fourth quarter, the Raptors responded with a 6-0 run and the deficit went right back to double digits. The Clippers wouldn’t get closer than they did at 73-67.
Chris Paul had 13 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. DeAndre Jordan finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Blake Griffin had nine points, marking the first time he was held to single digits this year.
The Clippers had issues in recent games halting the opponents’ long-range shooting down the stretch, but it was in the paint the Clippers struggled most of Sunday. With both teams struggling to hit from 3-point range, the battle inside was crucial, and the Clippers struggled most of the day with just 10 combined points in the paint and second-chance points at halftime.
Toronto finished with 10 more points in the paint than the Clippers and went 29-for-31 from the free-throw line as the Clippers dropped their third straight game.
