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The Los Angeles Clippers fell 126-121 to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, April 15, at Intuit Dome after surrendering a 13-point lead in the final quarter of the NBA play-in matchup.
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue pointed directly to late-game execution breakdowns as the turning point, highlighting turnovers and defensive mistakes.
“We got a game in our hands and some silly plays, not doing the right thing execution wise,” Lue said. “And to be up 13 with 10 minutes to go in the game, we got to finish that game.”
Golden State closed the contest on a 16-6 run, fueled by Stephen Curry’s late scoring burst and Al Horford’s perimeter shooting.
Lue emphasized defensive miscommunication and poor coverage on key possessions that allowed Golden State back into the game.
“We double teamed, kicked it out, made a three, cut to and then on the inbound we threw the ball away on their next play. That was a big momentum shift for them,” he said.
Turnovers became a defining issue, with Lue pointing to the volume and its impact on momentum swings.
“We turned the ball over 18 times for 26 points. We talked about we can’t do that and then give up 43 points in the fourth quarter,” Lue said.
Golden State’s fourth-quarter surge included multiple three-point conversions from Horford and the decisive go-ahead shot from Curry with under a minute remaining.
Lue also addressed defensive adjustments on Curry and the Warriors’ spacing, noting how attention on one threat created opportunities for others.
“Once he makes two in a row, we got to pay more attention to him being on the floor. He made some big shots for them to get him back in the game,” he said.
Kawhi Leonard was limited to one shot attempt in a key fourth-quarter stretch, with Lue crediting Golden State’s physical perimeter defense and pick-and-roll pressure.
“I thought Draymond did a good job being physical, denying the basketball, not letting him catch it in the spots,” Lue said. “And they blitzed it and just tried to make him a passer.”
Darius Garland’s foul trouble also disrupted Los Angeles’ rhythm, with Lue noting the guard’s impact on both ends when available.
“With him on the floor we know offensively that they’re going to try to take him out of the game,” Lue said. “It’s unfortunate he can only play 31 minutes because of foul trouble.”
Looking ahead, Lue shifted focus to development and adjustments after a season defined by roster changes and limited preparation time.
“We got a training camp, a preseason together, things could be different as far as execution wise,” he said. “Everything just was so fast this season.”
Lue also acknowledged Golden State’s late-game experience as a deciding factor in the closing stretch.
“They showed the championship pedigree,” he said. “You can see why they’re champs.”
Despite the disappointment, Lue framed the season’s turnaround as a broader positive, pointing to resilience through early struggles.
“We wasn’t playing well… but those guys stayed the course,” Lue said. “Unhappy about the results tonight, but our guys did as best they could this year.”
