The Los Angeles Clippers followed a 2-13 November — one of the worst months in franchise history — with another defeat to open December, falling 121-97 to the Miami Heat on Monday and slipping to 5-16 overall.
Injuries and lineup turbulence
According to The Athletic, injuries have pushed head coach Tyronn Lue to lean on players he had hoped to use off the bench. Forwards John Collins and Kris Dunn have recently moved into the starting five after beginning the season as reserves.
The Clippers’ summer acquisitions have offered little relief. Center Brook Lopez and point guard Chris Paul have seen their roles shrink, while guard Bradley Beal will miss the remainder of the season with a hip injury.
Defense sinks from elite to bottom tier
A unit anchored by center Ivica Zubac ranked third in defensive rating last season. This year, Los Angeles has fallen to 27th, struggling in transition, on the glass, against three-point shooters and at forcing turnovers.
Powell torches former team
Former Clipper Norman Powell powered Miami with 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting and posted a plus-33 in 32 minutes. “I would have never guessed that they were going to be 5-16 and where they’re at right now,” Powell said afterward.
Harden benched after halftime shake-up
After the Heat opened the second half with a 9-0 run, Lue yanked all five starters just 86 seconds into the third quarter. Four eventually returned, but James Harden — who committed five turnovers and finished minus-39 in 20 minutes — stayed on the bench. Lue entered the post-game interview room moments after the final horn, found no reporters present and left without addressing the decision.
Flexibility for a reset
Despite limited control of future draft picks — including the 2026 first-rounder owed to Oklahoma City — the Clippers carry no guaranteed salaries beyond the current roster, giving them room to make changes. League observers believe several veterans could draw interest ahead of the trade deadline, with Zubac’s age (28) and contract (three years, $58.7 million) making the center a particularly attractive target.
Source: Hoops Rumors
