Tests from teams that many consider are thought to consider title contenders, teams with the best records in the league, three All-Stars and All-Star coaches.
The Clippers’ Test came from teams where double-digit players scored double-digit points, second in scoring (122.5 points), second in field goal percentage (49.2) and second in three-point shooting percentage (38.8) with double-digit points.
That was the Clippers’ opposition when they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Intuit Dome on Tuesday night, and they had to do it without Coach Tyrone Lu, who missed the game due to back pain.
The Clippers passed that test and proved that this tough, rough team can play and beat the best.
They won four straight wins on their 28th birthday, behind a strong double double of 29 points and a 20 rebound strength.
They scored it behind an efficient 33 points with 18-12 shooting, including 6-6 from the 3-point range.
They scored 22 points and nine assists, 20 points and 7 assists from Bogdan Bodanovic and 10 points from Derrick Jones Jr.
And they won it behind a stingy defense in the second half, during which the Clippers held the high-scoring Cavaliers at 46 points.
The Clippers struggled to contain the Cavaliers in the first half, giving up 73 points with 56.5% shooting, including 50% from the 3-point range. The Clippers stayed nearby, as their offense was appropriate, and they lost just five points after the first 24 minutes.
Clippers assistant Brian Shaw, who took over for Lou in his absence, said this was a game like “juice flows a little more.” Cleveland joined the game with a record of the NBA’s top 56-11.
The Cavaliers have one of the best backcourts at All-Star Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, including All-Star forward Evan Mobley and All-Star manager Kenny Atkinson.
“We haven’t seen this team at all this year, so seeing where we really are will be a good test,” Shaw said before the tip-off. “But I don’t want to make it any more than what it is. It’s a different game. We know where we are in the rankings and how important it is. But we just want to continue doing what we’re doing.”
The Clippers (39-30) are the 8th seed team in the Western Conference, with 1.5 games for the sixth Golden State Warriors and one game behind the seventh seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
From Lou, Gundy
Lue missed four of the last six games due to back issues. He last coached Charlotte on Sunday and was suffering during the game.
“I get daily updates, but his back issues have been reinforced again,” Shaw said. “He was getting better. I think the last game was on the bench with hot pads on the shoulders of most games. So, we’re all just praying, hoping that whatever it is, they can get to the bottom and he’ll come back.”
The Clippers also had no assistant Jeff Van Gundy, who was in charge of commanding the team’s defense and who missed the game due to unspecified family issues.
