Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue addressed his team’s struggles following a 131-115 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 on Tuesday night. The loss puts the Clippers down 3-2 in their first-round series, leaving them with a must-win situation in Game 6 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
In his postgame remarks, Lue credited Jamal Murray for his stellar 43-point performance, noting that the guard’s aggressive play was expected after his strong pregame mindset. “We knew in Game 5 he would come out aggressive, and he made every shot,” Lue said. “We did everything—blitzed him, dropped, switched, and tried different coverages—but he had a hell of a game.”
Despite limiting Nikola Jokic to just 13 points, the Clippers were unable to contain Murray, who shot 17-of-26 from the field, including 8-for-14 from three-point range. Lue acknowledged the challenge of defending Denver’s star duo but remained resolute. “If you worry about [Jokic] too much, other guys can beat you,” he explained.
A major talking point was the performance of James Harden, who struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with just 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting. Lue attributed this to Denver’s defensive efforts, saying, “I think they’ve made their mind up they’re going to try to take him out of the series.” Lue also emphasized the need for better strategies to get Harden more involved moving forward.
Kris Dunn’s shooting performance came under scrutiny as well. After an early substitution, Lue was quick to bring him back into the game. “He’s been great for us all year,” Lue said. “I just wanted to see how it looked with a shooting lineup out there, but we weren’t good defensively, so I had to bring him back in.”
When asked about the team’s sense of urgency, Lue didn’t mince words. “They kicked our butt,” he said. “Game 4 we didn’t come out with the sense of urgency, but tonight we had the right intent—they just took it to us.”
The Clippers’ defense, which had been shaky throughout the game, allowed Denver to shoot an impressive 51.5% from beyond the arc.
“We’ve got to respond,” Lue stated, reflecting on the series. “We blew them out in Game 3, and they came back in Game 4. Now we have to do the same. I don’t know what changes you can make, but we’ve got to do a better job with the three-point line.”
Looking ahead to Game 6, Lue emphasized the importance of defending the three-point line. Denver made 17 threes in Game 5, and the Clippers couldn’t match that production. “Whoever wins the three-point battle wins the game,” Lue noted, pointing out the need for his team to be shot-ready and spaced well on offense.
With Game 6 set for Thursday, Lue remains confident. “Going back home, we’ll be fine. It’ll be rocking,” he said. The Clippers will need to bounce back quickly and protect the three-point line if they hope to force a Game 7.
