Clippers guard offers straightforward advice after another tight loss in Houston.
The Los Angeles Clippers have found a lot of different ways to lose games this season, and their latest defeat in Houston was no different as the team continues to struggle when games come down to the wire.
After falling 115-113 to the Rockets on Thursday night, veteran guard Kris Dunn was asked what the Clippers need to do to turn things around in close contests.
His answer was as simple as it gets.
"Trust God," Dunn said.
Another Heartbreaker in Houston
The loss dropped the Clippers to 6-19 on the season while the Rockets improved to 16-6, and the defeat marked Los Angeles' third straight loss and eighth in their last nine games overall.
The game came down to the final seconds when Amen Thompson's three-point play with 17.2 seconds left broke a 110-110 tie and put Houston ahead for good, and the Clippers had two chances to tie it but came up empty on both possessions.
Ivica Zubac had a monster night with 33 points on 13-of-14 shooting from the field, while Kawhi Leonard added 24 points and James Harden chipped in 22 against his former team.
Despite the strong individual efforts, the Clippers were badly outrebounded 51-28 and could not stop Thompson on the offensive glass during the game's final possession.
Dunn's Steady Presence
Dunn has become a full-time starter since early November and finished the Houston game with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting while adding six assists and two steals in 26 minutes off the floor.
He connected on three of his seven three-point attempts, showing the kind of offensive efficiency that has made him a reliable piece in the rotation this year.
Through 22 games this season, Dunn is averaging 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting a solid clip from beyond the arc.
His impact on the defensive end continues to be his calling card, and he remains one of the team's best perimeter defenders even as the wins have been hard to come by.
Looking Ahead
The Clippers now turn their attention to Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies as they look to snap out of their losing skid.
For a team that has dropped so many close games this season, perhaps Dunn's message is exactly what they need to hear right now, because sometimes the simplest advice is the best advice when nothing else seems to be working.