Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue addressed the media on Tuesday ahead of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, emphasizing preparation, adaptability, and health.
Lue confirmed that forward Nicolas Batum remains out and did not travel for the Clippers’ recent road trip to Golden State, calling the injury “not a day-to-day thing” and noting that his availability will be reevaluated tomorrow.
“We didn’t practice today,” Lue said. “Just film and walk-throughs.”
The Clippers have not faced Denver since January 8, and Lue said regular-season matchups hold limited value in playoff settings.
He warned that allowing Denver to control the tempo—especially in transition—would be costly, referencing a previous meeting in which the Nuggets scored 36 fast-break points.
Denver finished the regular season as the Western Conference’s No. 4 seed with a 53-29 record, led by Nikola Jokic’s 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game.
Lue emphasized the importance of disrupting Jokic’s rhythm: “If you let him score, he might get 50 or 60. If you try to stop his scoring, he’ll dish out 20 assists. You have to mix it up.”
The Clippers, who ended the season at 52-30 and earned the No. 5 seed, will lean heavily on Kawhi Leonard, who Lue said is “in a great mental space” and healthy going into the postseason.
Leonard missed key stretches earlier this season but finished strong, while teammate Ivica Zubac has emerged as a consistent force in the paint, averaging 12.4 points and 10.1 rebounds.
“He’s matured, and the work has paid off,” Lue said about Zubac, crediting assistant coaches Jay Larranaga and Larry Drew for helping him manage double teams more effectively.
Lue also addressed potential altitude concerns in Denver, noting it’s “only tough until that first timeout.”
Both teams have played high-stakes games late in the regular season, and Lue believes that competitive environment helps heading into the playoffs.
He acknowledged that the Nuggets’ coaching change late in the season brings uncertainty, saying, “We don’t know exactly what to expect yet.”
The Clippers plan to counter Denver’s size with a mix of physicality and execution, especially against Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., who create matchup issues on the wings.
“We’ve got to keep them off the glass,” Lue said. “This series is going to be different now that Kawhi is back.”
