Following a sub-par start to the season, the LA Clippers have become one of the league’s hottest teams. Before Tuesday night, they had won six straight, as well as 13 of their past 15 games.
However, that winning streak died last night at the United Center in Chicago as the Clippers fell hard to the Chicago Bulls, 110-138.
The loss of Kawhi Leonard has been hard for the Clippers. The six-time crowned All-Star has missed his third straight game from a sprained right ankle injury and a bruised left knee, and his absence was felt last night.
Nonetheless, James Harden and John Collins have stepped up in Leonard’s place. Harden led Los Angeles with 24 points. Following him was Collins, scoring 23 points and matching his season high with five 3-pointers in the game.
Still, both their performances could not compete with the Bulls last night.
Coby White was a star for Chicago leading the team with 27 points and hitting six of the Bulls’ franchise record-tying 25 3-pointers.
In the second quarter, Nikola Vucevic started a 22-6 point run for Chicago after making a hook shot, which was followed by Ayo Dosunmu draining a pair of three-pointers to give the Bulls to a 58-43 lead.
Chicago ended up being ahead by 21 points going into the second half, with a 70-49 lead. Their 45-point second quarter was their season-best.
In the third quarter, the Clippers shrunk the point gap, cutting the lead down to 80-74. However, despite the push to regain control of the game, Los Angeles would have the door shut on them. A Tre Jones floater kickstarted a 17-3 run to push the lead back to 20 — putting the game out of reach.
The Clippers fell to 19-24 on the season. They host their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, on Thursday, looking to pick up the pieces and get back on track.