The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 118-99 on Thursday night, and John Collins didn't need to search for an explanation. The answer was written all over the first half.
LA got outscored 68-44 in the first two quarters, digging a hole so deep that a strong third quarter where they outscored San Antonio 34-19 was never going to be enough. It's a pattern that Collins says has followed this team all season, and one they haven't been able to shake at the worst possible time of year.
"Just coming out to a slow start has been the biggest thing," Collins said. "It's been our Achilles heel a lot of the year. Continuing to get to the point where we're doing the right things. We're sort of starting by putting ourselves in a hole. It's hard to come back against teams when you're going to give yourself a deficit, and it cost us."
The Clippers shot just 18.5% from three in the game, going 5-of-27 from deep. Darius Garland struggled badly, finishing 5-of-17 from the field and 1-of-8 from three. Brook Lopez was 3-of-12. Kawhi Leonard did his part with 24 points on efficient shooting.
Mar 31, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward John Collins (20) shoots the ball against Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (24) and center Robert Williams III (35) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesA Recurring Problem
Collins himself was solid with 15 points on 75% from the field, but there wasn't enough around them to mount a serious comeback once the deficit reached double figures.
What makes Collins's quote particularly pointed is the word "Achilles heel." He's not describing a one-game blip, this is decidedly a season-long identity issue. Slow starts have cost this team repeatedly, and the margin for error shrinks with every game left on the schedule.
The Clippers are in the thick of a playoff race where every loss carries real weight. After spotting 19 points to the Spurs in the first quarter, they were playing from behind before the crowd had settled in.
San Antonio got 22 from De'Aaron Fox, 20 from Stephon Castle, and 19 from Dylan Harper. Those three combined to shoot efficiently and attack the Clippers' defense in transition and off the dribble all night. When you give a young, athletic team a running start, it's difficult to pull them back.
The Window Is Closing
The Clippers now face a tight final stretch with their playoff positioning on the line. The issues Collins is describing are the kinds of things that are very difficult to fix in the last week of the regular season. Finding a way to create urgency is not something you can do easily when you've been unable to do so for much of the season already.
Collins has been one of the more consistent voices and performers on this roster. The fact that he's naming this problem directly is a sign that the team is aware of it. Awareness, though, only goes so far. At this stage of the season, they need a fix, and they need it fast.