Tyronn Lue pointed to fatigue and defensive lapses following the Los Angeles Clippers’ 138-110 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night at the United Center.
“You know, of course, you know, the trip we had, you know, going two on one was a good trip for us, but I thought this game went back to back really caught up with us,” Lue said. “Guys were, you know, tired, was slow. We’re already slow, but, you know, even slower.”
The Clippers struggled to keep pace with Chicago’s shooting and tempo, especially in transition. “For us defensively I thought really hurt us,” Lue said. “We couldn’t, you know, get back in transition. We couldn’t get matched up and um they really hurt us.”
Chicago punished those breakdowns with a franchise record-tying 25 three-pointers, shooting 53 percent from deep. “They spread us out and they was able to attack and get into the paint, make every play and made 25 threes tonight,” Lue said.
The game swung decisively in the second quarter, when the Bulls outscored Los Angeles 45-19. Chicago entered halftime up 70-49 after shooting 64 percent in the period and forcing rushed possessions.
Despite the deficit, the Clippers briefly made it competitive in the third quarter. “I give our guys a lot of credit coming out being down 21 and a half, cut it to six,” Lue said. “When you get down that big, you got to expend a lot of energy trying to get back in the game.”
That rally was short-lived. “It went from six back to 20 so fast,” Lue said. “We kept the fight and then they’re just too much for us tonight.”
James Harden logged heavy minutes as Los Angeles tried to stabilize its offense without its usual spacing. Lue explained his approach when Harden went to the bench. “We try to play through Jordan a little more and then Zu when Zu comes back in once James goes to the bench,” he said. “Just try to you know stay afloat, you know, just scoring the basketball.”
John Collins was one of the few bright spots, finishing with 23 points and five three-pointers. “Just his defense,” Lue said. “I think one-on-one defense has been really good. Weak side shot blocking has been better and then rebounding.”
Lue also highlighted Collins’ recent shooting stretch. “We knew he’s a good shooter coming into it, like I said, five or six from three tonight,” he said. “The way he’s been shooting the ball over the last 15 games has been incredible.”
Asked about positives, Lue returned to the third-quarter push. “Just our ability to keep fighting in the third quarter,” he said. “To not give in, you know, early on.”
The Clippers fell to 19-23 and sit 10th in the Western Conference. Chicago improved to 20-22 and remains ninth in the East after one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season.
