Tyronn Lue came away from the Clippers’ 115-110 win over the Warriors with praise for his group’s resilience, the play from his bench, and the challenge that now awaits in Wednesday’s play-in rematch at Intuit Dome.
On Bennedict Mathurin’s 20-point outing, Lue said the key was simple: “attack mode.” He added that Mathurin has to keep pushing in transition because he is “one of the best guys” at getting downhill and drawing contact.
Lue also pointed to the bigger picture after Los Angeles finished 42-40, completing a remarkable turnaround from a 6-21 start. He called it “a great achievement” and said it showed “the heart in that locker room.”
For Lue, that comeback mattered even with more work ahead. “For all the guys just to stay the course and not give in was huge,” he said, while crediting the staff for getting the team through a difficult season.
Bogdan Bogdanovic was another bright spot, tying his season high with 17 points and five threes. Lue said it was “great” to see Bogdanovic rewarded after the work he has put in every day with the coaches and trainers.
The Clippers now turn around quickly for another meeting with Golden State, and Lue said the approach will be straightforward. “Nothing. Just take tomorrow off,” he said before the team returns Tuesday to clean up defensive and offensive details.
He made clear that the plan does not change just because the stakes do. “Mentality can’t change,” Lue said. “We got to still be physical,” especially against a Warriors team that moves with pace and off-ball action.
Lue said the Clippers did a strong job Sunday of taking away the Warriors’ back cuts and slips to the basket, which helped control the game in the second half. He also stressed that the defense must stay locked in no matter who is on the floor.
“Just be physical,” he said, adding that the team cannot give Golden State space because of how well it runs its offense.
John Collins, who finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, also earned Lue’s praise. He said Collins’ energy, offensive rebounds, putbacks and rim runs helped spark the Clippers at key moments.
Lue finished by noting that Kawhi Leonard’s presence on the bench mattered, even without him playing. “It’s great,” Lue said, calling it valuable for younger players to have the team’s best player around and engaged.
