The Los Angeles Clippers had chances on Thursday. They had numbers advantages, open looks in transition, and opportunities to claw back into a game that got away from them early, they just couldn't finish. Ty Lue made no attempt to sugarcoat what has become a recurring problem for this Clippers squad.
"We had a lot of opportunities. Three on twos, two on ones, four on twos, and just not capitalizing in transition," Lue said. "That's been a theme the last three or four games."
That theme is becoming a serious concern. Dropping two straight to the same Pelicans team while sitting at 34-36 is not the trajectory this team wants heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Mar 19, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots against LA Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn ImagesTransition Failures and Turnovers Are Becoming a Pattern
The Clippers finished the night with 16 turnovers and missed 13 free throws, a combination that makes winning nearly impossible regardless of opponent. But what frustrated Lue most wasn't the volume of mistakes, it was the nature of them.
Converting in transition requires decisiveness and trust in your teammates. LA had the numerical advantages and repeatedly came away with nothing. That kind of thing doesn't fix itself overnight, and with Kawhi Leonard sidelined, the margin for self-inflicted damage is essentially zero.
Lue was measured but direct in his assessment, noting the effort wasn't the issue. The reads and the finishing were. And until that changes, close games are going to keep slipping away.
It wasn't all bleak. Jordan Miller made his first career start and delivered 37 solid minutes, getting to the free throw line 11 times and making the right reads throughout. Lue praised his ability to take what the defense gave him rather than forcing the issue.
Bright Spots Couldn't Overcome Systemic Issues
Bogdan Bogdanovic, playing just his fourth game of 2026, provided a needed spark off the bench. Lue credited him for staying ready through an extended absence and delivering when his number was called, knocking down shots, running pick and roll, and making plays.
Derrick Jones and John Collins also drew praise, with Collins specifically called out for his positive energy in the huddle despite a frustrating shooting night. On the defensive end, LA's game plan against Zion Williamson was quietly excellent.
Switching one through five to take away his angles and force him into a more stationary role was unorthodox, and Lue admitted he doubted it initially. But ultimately, it worked. The problem was Trey Murphy, who the Clippers kept gifting open threes by over-helping on drives.
The execution is simply what's holding LA back right now. New Orleans has been an underrated basketball team for weeks now, but this still should have been a winnable game, particularly coming off a loss. The time to get things fixed is running out.