The sun was brighter in Denver, while it was cold and uncomfortable in LA. Entering Ball Arena after Sunday’s Game 4 defeat, Ty Lou came with a belief. Pinning down the Nuggets again should’ve been easy, right? But it wasn’t. As Nikola Jokic took a backseat despite a triple-double, it was Jamal Murray who sparked. A 43-point game from the Canadian was the last thing the Clippers would’ve liked. Thus, LA ended the game with a 16-point deficit in a 115-131 loss, falling behind 2-3 in the series.
Appearing before the media after the defeat in Game 5, the LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue didn’t look happy. How could he? Everything now comes down to the sixth game on Thursday. Such results and setbacks demand a change, don’t they?
“I mean, we’ve got to respond; we blew them out in Game 3, and they came back and responded in Game 4, so we’ve got to do the same thing,” Ty Lue responded to the reporters. In the third game of the Playoff series, the LA Clippers demolished the Denver Nuggets 117-83, only to suffer a 99-101 defeat in Game 4. That’s the kind of comeback Coach Lue is looking forward to on Thursday. “I don’t know what changes you can make,” Lue also admitted. “They made shots. Like I said, making 17 threes, and they blew us out. We made 18 threes, and we blew them out.”
Mar 14, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue works on the sideline against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Adding a piece of his observation, Ty Lue noted: “The three-point line is going to be the most important thing. We’ve got to make sure we’re taking care of that, which we didn’t do a good job with tonight. But like I said, going back home in two, it’ll be rocking. We’ll be fine.”
Ty Lue’s emphasis on defending the 3-point line comes after Murray’s 8-of-14 perfection on Tuesday. He acknowledged that his team failed to do so effectively in their recent game. Despite the setback, he remains confident, looking ahead to the next game at home, where he believes the team’s energy and performance will bounce back with support from the home crowd.
Now, Kawhi Leonard, who had a 20-point night vs. the Nuggets, has a message for the Clippers locker room. It’s time for the team to listen to the veteran, as experience is always the loudest in a room.
After Ty Lue’s concerning confession, Kawhi Leonard makes locker room plea
While Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook lit up the backcourt, Ty Lue’s star, James Harden, fizzled out for the Clippers. With just 3-of-9 shooting, 11 points, and a team-high 4 turnovers, his 8 rebounds and 5 assists couldn’t mask the struggles. For an 11-time All-Star, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Meanwhile, the 33-year-old veteran forward, Kawhi Leonard, tried to hold the reins with his 20 points alongside Ivica Zubac’s 27 points.
Speaking to the media after the game, the Klaw made an important locker room plea. Throughout the game, it looked like the Nuggets made it their sole motive to guard Leonard and Harden. So, are the players doing anything about the situation, or simply making more plays for Zu and other guys? “Got to play the game. They knocked down—our teammates knocked down shots tonight. We just weren’t able to defend,” Kawhi expressed. “We’ve got to keep playing the same way. If we want to keep going, everybody has to contribute, which they are doing. And yeah, just keep playing the same game.”
Apr 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) warms up before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Kawhi Leonard reflected on his team’s performance, noting that while his teammates knocked down shots, they struggled defensively. He emphasized the need to stick to their game plan and believed that continued contribution from everyone was essential to keep progressing.
Now the lights shift to Thursday, where legends rise—or fall. The Clippers have no room left for errors, no cushion for cold spells. With Ty Lue’s belief and Kawhi’s quiet command, LA must turn noise into numbers. Because if they want to stay alive, talk won’t cut it—only total execution will.
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