Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – Doc Rivers wasn’t sure after Friday’s loss if or which players would sit with three more games in the next four nights.
One thing Rivers said he will consider is switching up the combinations he uses on the bench. With a game Saturday at home against the Bucks, Rivers said he could start using different players after the reserves struggled Friday night in a loss to the Nuggets.
“It was disappointing,” Rivers said. (The starters) expended that much energy and the group that comes in for them gives no energy. Now the starters have to come back in and reestablish things. We’ve got to get that fixed. That’s on me.”
Apart from Jamal Crawford’s 20 points, the Clippers’ bench scored two points against the Nuggets. The Clippers outscored the Nuggets by 19 points in the second quarter but watched the lead disappear when the backups gave it up to start the fourth.
“It was more the defense,” Rivers said. “It was awful.”
Crawford said the bench needs to start playing more consistently. He said the bench needs to have an edge, and if the starters do get the lead, they can’t be the ones to give it back.
“I’m not really worried about the offensive part of it, but we can’t give up leads. If we’re not going to score as a group, then they shouldn’t score, either,” Crawford said. “We have to increase the lead or at least hold the fort down until they get their rest and get back in.”
LAST TIME OUT
Nuggets 109, Clippers 106: Despite outscoring the Bucks, 31-12, in the third quarter to overcome a 16-point deficit, the Clippers couldn’t finish the job in Denver. The Clippers were called for seven technical fouls, including five in the fourth quarter. Even after all that, the Clippers had multiple chances to send the game to overtime, but three 3-point attempts were off the mark.
Bucks 108, Kings 107: The Bucks withstood the major loss of Jabari Parker and had to start rookie Johnny O’Bryant and Zaza Pachulia with Larry Sanders suspended a game. They still won, despite the return of the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins, who finished with 27 points. Jared Dudley and Jerryd Bayless combined for 36 points off the bench.
NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP
Brandon Knight vs. Chris Paul – The last matchup marked the second of a rare back-to-back six-turnover night for Paul, who’d never done that in consecutive games in his career. Meanwhile, Brandon Knight led the Bucks with 22 points and also added five assists. Paul has since got his turnover numbers back down to normalcy and will look to bounce back personally and help his team bounce back after a loss they’d like to have back against the Nuggets.
TWO THINGS TO WATCH
Ball Security – The Bucks are third in the league with 16.8 turnovers per game, which is something the Clippers will try to take advantage of. Meanwhile, the Clippers are in the bottom 10 in the league with only 12.7 turnovers per game. That said, if they let the Bucks shoot 56 percent again, the turnover battle may not matter.
Different Look – The loss of Parker is a significant one for the Bucks, particularly against the Clippers. Parker had 12 points in the matchup a week ago. He also played a small forward position the Bucks struggled to guard against when playing the Clippers, as Matt Barnes scored a game-high 26 points.
NOTES
The Clippers have lost three of their last five games…The Bucks have won three of their last four …J.J. Redick was traded to the Clippers from the Bucks…
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