LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers had just landed in this city, mere hours after spending an entire plane ride digesting their second loss to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals.
So as soon as he hopped into his car, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue already plotted in-game adjustments. Before he would watch game footage, Lue called players individually with a simple message.
"The game is over. It happens. It doesn’t mean anything," Lue recalled saying. "They took care of their two games at home. Now we have to take care of our two games. We can’t look in the past. We have to look ahead."
It's perhaps a stretch to say that Lue’s phone conversations were the only reason why the Clippers finished with a 106-92 Game 3 win over Phoenix on Thursday at Staples Center. But it captured how the Clippers responded appropriately to a 0-2 series deficit for three consecutive playoff series.
"It’s special, the relationship I have with T and relationship that T-Lue has with everyone on this team in general," George said. "It says a lot about him."
Ty Lue on his message to the @LAClippers after their flight back to Los Angeles following Game 2. #ThatsGame
After their Game 3 win, LAC can tie the series on Saturday at 9pm/et on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/My2sKiA7st
When Lue talked to George on the phone, the Clippers coach also addressed a different subject. George missed two foul shots with 8.2 seconds left. That marked the second-most significant possession in Game 2 before Suns center Deandre Ayton made a winning lob off an inbounds pass with 0.7 seconds remaining. Still, Lue downplayed those missed free throws and paid more attention to rest of George’s body of work.
"We wouldn’t be in this position without you," Lue recalled telling George.
Nearly two days later, George showed the Clippers would not be in a position to force at least a Game 5 without him. He finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
"I thought we did a great job of moving on, and I moved on," George said. "I had to be better, and I have to be better. Everything was then put into going Game 3. All my energy was directed toward a better game."
Nothing personified the Clippers’ bounce-back performance more than George’s 30-footer just before the third quarter ended. That gave the Clippers an 80-69 lead after outscoring the Suns 34-21 in the third quarter. So, George blew kisses to his significant other and children.
"It’s a reason why I shoot it in my pregame," George said. "It’s more so for feel if I get those shots in a game. I want to have some type of feel on the range of that shot."
PG continues his stellar #NBAPlayoffs.
🔥 27 PTS
🔥 15 REB
🔥 8 AST
The @LAClippers take Game 3.. they can tie the series with a W Saturday at 9pm/et on ESPN! #ThatsGamepic.twitter.com/aU6Ijot13V
George admitted he didn’t call glass, but he felt great about the shot because of the timing and launch angle. Yes, the Clippers have looked much differently in Game 3s than the first two games of each playoff series. Unlike during last year’s postseason bubble collapse when they squandered a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers have not underachieved during these playoffs. They have just initially struggled to match up with their opponent’s star players.
First, the Clippers encountered Dallas Mavericks star Luca Doncic. Then, they faced off against Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell. Each time, the Clippers eventually countered those threats both with varying defensive assignments and each star player experiencing various injuries.
Against the Suns, a similar theme played out. In his first game since after being sidelined for 11 days because of the NBA’s health and safety protocols, Chris Paul had 15 points while shooting 5-of-19 from the field and 2-of-7 from 3-point range along with 12 assists. While wearing a mask stemming from a crooked nose suffered in Game 2, Devin Booker had 15 points while shooting only 5-of-21 from the field and 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
To counter those threats, Lue started second-year guard Terance Mann on Paul in hopes of preserving George’s workload. Lue assigned Beverley on Booker after irritating him in Game 2 with mixed results. Lue started center Ivica Zubac to provide a verticality threat, while bringing Marcus Morris Sr. off the bench after nursing pain in recent days. Offensively, Reggie Jackson (23 points), Zubac (15) and Mann (12) chipped in with with double-digit efforts.
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