Miller has been a bright spot for the Clippers when dealing with absences.
The Los Angeles Clippers dropped a tough one to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, falling 119-115 at Intuit Dome and slipping back to .500 on the season at 34-34.
It was their second straight loss to the Spurs in the last 11 days, and without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup due to a sprained ankle, the Clippers had to lean on guys who are still growing into bigger roles.
One of those guys is Jordan Miller, who stepped up with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting along with nine rebounds and three assists in the loss.
After the game, Miller was asked about the brutal stretch the Clippers are navigating this month, and his answer showed a level of maturity that has quietly defined his breakout season.
"It's grueling, but you know, part of being a professional is doing what you got to do on the court, but also off the court," Miller said. "Obviously the schedule's definitely not in our favor this month, but like we got two ways we can look at it. Give up or, you know, attack it. So, it's definitely just the cards we were dealt with. So, it's like we got to make the most of it."
A Grueling Month
He is not wrong about the schedule, either.
The Clippers have 17 games packed into the month of March, including nine at home and eight on the road with a three-game road trip starting Wednesday in New Orleans.
That is a lot of basketball for a team fighting to hold onto the eighth seed in the Western Conference, especially when your best player is dealing with an ankle issue that has already cost him a game.
Kawhi Leonard has been the engine behind everything the Clippers have done this season, averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game while leading the team's remarkable turnaround from a 6-21 start.
When he is on the floor, the offense runs through him and the spacing opens up for everyone else.
When he is not, the Clippers have to find other ways to create, and that is where Miller comes in.
Miller's Growth
Miller's rise this season has been one of the quieter but more meaningful stories on a team full of bigger names.
The third-year wing went from barely getting minutes to averaging 9.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 52.7 percent shooting in 40 games this season.
His play earned him a full standard contract in February after spending much of his career on a two-way deal.
What stands out about Miller is not just the numbers but the way he plays.
He attacks the rim, makes the right reads on offense and brings energy on both ends of the floor.
His 22-point outing against the Spurs was a reminder that he can carry a bigger load when the team needs it, and his mindset about the schedule shows he is ready for the challenge.
What's Ahead
The Clippers now head out for a road trip that starts in New Orleans before stops in Dallas and then back home for games against Milwaukee and Toronto later in the month.
With Leonard's status still up in the air, the Clippers are going to need Miller and the rest of the supporting cast to keep the ship steady.
Miller's message after Monday's loss was simple.
This team is not going to feel sorry for itself, and they are going to keep fighting no matter what the schedule throws at them.