Clippers head coach Ty Lue speaks on the controversial foul that swung the Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets contest.
The Los Angeles Clippers saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday as they fell to the Denver Nuggets, 122-109.
With just under eight minutes to go, and the Clippers trailing 97-93, Tim Hardaway Jr airballed a three, and the Clippers gained possession as the ball went out of bounds. No foul was called on the play.
After a ref-initiated review, Clippers' player Jordan Miller was called for a reckless closeout, giving Hardaway Jr three free throws. The refs determined Miller crowded the space of Hardaway Jr as he was in the air. Hardaway Jr landed on the foot of Miller and immediately clutched his ankle.
Hardaway Jr knocked down all three from the line, pushing the Nuggets' lead to 100-93. The Clippers never got within four points the rest of the game.
Ty Lue Addresses The Call, Sort Of
After the game, Clippers head coach Ty Lue addressed the non-call that turned into a controversial and game-changing call.
"No comment. I was going to be mad and probably get fined, but I saw Mrs. Faye and Mr. Rayna in the hallway, they made me feel a lot better. I smiled when I got a chance to see them. I don't know. Whatever the call was, it's over now. I'm not going to speak on it," said Lue.
Lue did address the return of Nikola Jokic, saying it's hard to guard Jokic without fouling because he draws fouls and he puts opposing players in a tough position. Lue called Jokic the best player in the world.
Jokic shot 17 free throws in 25 minutes. The entire Clippers team shot 21 free throws.
Momentum Change
The Clippers entered the fourth quarter down 92-80, and were down 95-80 after a three from Hardaway Jr 23 seconds into the quarter.
After that, Los Angeles went on a run thanks to reserve Kobe Sanders. Sanders knocked down back-to-back threes and answered a bucket by Jonas Valanciunas with a dunk set up by Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard then took over, finishing an and-one at the line and hitting one of his patented mid-range shots to cut the lead to four.
On a 13-2 run, the Clippers seemed poised to continue to cut into the lead even more following the Hardaway Jr airball.
Instead, the call was made, Hardaway Jr pushed the lead to seven, and Jokic re-entered the game for the Nuggets to stabilize the offense and control the game.