< The Latest 2025-01-21T08:57:44+0000
The Pasadena Star-News | Mon 01/20 10:11pm PST | Janis Carr
Clippers guard Norman Powell shoots as Chicago Bulls forward Talen Horton-Tucker defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers center Mo Bamba (4) pulls down a rebound as Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (2) and forward Patrick Williams (44) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard James Harden, right, drives as Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, left, passes the ball while under pressure from Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Terance Mann reacts after dunking against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) hangs from the rim after dunking against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, bottom left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) shoots as Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Kris Dunn, left, vies for the ball with Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
The Chicago Bulls’ Talen Horton-Tucker, left, shoots as the Clippers’ Nicolas Batum defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, left, vies for the ball with Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls forward Dalen Terry (25) drives as Clippers guard Amir Coffey defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. (77) pulls down a rebound against Chicago Bulls forward Dalen Terry, third from right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls forward Talen Horton-Tucker (22) shoots as Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan yells out during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls forward Talen Horton-Tucker (22) drives past Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) passes the ball between Clippers guard Kobe Brown (21) and guard Norman Powell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, right, chats with referee Brett Nansel during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) drives against Clippers guard Amir Coffey during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) reacts with teammates after making a 3-point shot against the Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard James Harden, left, chats with referee Kevin Scott (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) vies for the ball with Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) chats with guard Lonzo Ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Recently signed by Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, center, attends an NBA basketball game between the Clippers and the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Clippers guard Norman Powell shoots as Chicago Bulls forward Talen Horton-Tucker defends during the first half on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
INGLEWOOD — As the Clippers work their way through six games in nine days, it would be tempting to dial back minutes and rest the starters. Save the stars for the marquee games and give bench players an occasion to play.
But that isn’t always an option.
On Monday, the Clippers needed every single minute by every single available player and that still wasn’t enough as the Chicago Bulls ran away with a surprising 112-99 victory on the second night of a back-to-back at the Intuit Dome.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Clippers (24-18), who were outscored 36-16 in the third quarter.
The Clippers could blame their lackluster performance on the prospect of five games this week, including another back-to-back series starting Wednesday, or the absence of star Kawhi Leonard and center Ivica Zubac. But guard Norman Powell wasn’t buying into any excuses.
“They had a back-to-back and travel, so we don’t really have an excuse,” Powell said. “I think they came out with a lot of energy. They were flying around, and we came out flat. We had our moments when we made our run in the second quarter. We tried to make a run to start the fourth.
“We just got to try to find that spirit, that energy for the full course or hold it for longer. But give the credit to them. … They came out ready to play.”
The Clippers have little time to figure all that out before facing one of the NBA’s top teams. After a day off Tuesday, they come right back with games against the Boston Celtics, second in the Eastern Conference, and the last-place Washington Wizards.
“I think the stress we’re going through right now, we just got to be mentally tough,” Lue said. “Take it game by game, don’t look at it as six games in nine nights, four in five; just take it game by game.”
The Clippers’ compacted schedule is a result of the NBA having to reschedule games postponed because of the wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area this month.
Leonard sat out the second night of the Clippers’ first back-to-back series this week. Joining him on the bench was Zubac, who was accidentally poked in the eye by Lakers big man Anthony Davis on Sunday night. Lue said Zubac’s eye swelled up later Sunday night.
“It got worse last night and then he got some things done to it, so hopefully it won’t be too long,” Lue said. “It was a tough blow. So, Zu misses the game, it’s got to be pretty serious.”
Zubac’s absence left Lue starting backup Mo Bamba. Bamba, who has not played more than 17 minutes in a game this season, finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in 15 first-half minutes.
Lue had said he wanted to give a few role players the chance to log significant minutes this week; Monday’s game presented a prime opportunity. The Bulls (19-25) came into the game having lost five in a row, and like the Clippers, were on the second night of a back-to-back.
Yet, any idea of relying heavily on the bench went awry quickly as the Bulls ran out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter, then overcame a seven-point deficit in the second quarter to trail 50-48 at halftime.
Without Zubac and Leonard and little production from Kris Dunn, Lue was forced to go to the bench to give the starters a breather. But that didn’t work out too well.
The second unit produced little, leaving Lue no choice but to play the starters heavy minutes.
“I like us defensively. I don’t like us offensively,” Lue said of his second unit.
What’s wrong offensively?
“It’s nasty. Damn,” Lue said.
Powell played 38 minutes, scoring a team-high 27 points, while James Harden posted 17 points, five rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes.
Derrick Jones Jr. and Terance Mann each scored 12 points as the Clippers shot just 39.4% from the field (21.4% from 3-point range) and were outrebounded 54-40.
“We have no choice but to get it going again, but I don’t see any positives out of this game,” Lue said.
The Clippers never truly solved the Bulls’ transition game, falling behind by as many as 18 points in the second half, or found a way to stop Zach LaVine. The UCLA product scored a game-high 35 points on 11-of-21 shooting and scored 15 points in the pivotal third quarter. Josh Giddey had 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Talen Horton-Tucker contributed 18 points off the bench.
The Bulls, who were without top scorers Ayo Dosunmu (calf) and Coby White (ankle), made 15 3-pointers, led by five from LaVine.
Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, who started his NBA career with the Lakers in 2017 but has played just 57 games over the past four seasons because of various knee issues, finished with five points, four rebounds and three assists.