The LA Clippers have been off to a sluggish post-All-Star break start. They are 1-2 in their last three games since their return from the break. All of these contests were decided in the final minutes, tightly contested and coming down to the last possessions. The Clippers have been competitive in all of these games, but have had trouble executing late to seal the deal.
Kawhi Leonard has been putting on a clinic, averaging 30.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and four assists. He has continued his dominance that brought the Clippers from the bottom of the Western Conference into the playoff hunt. Leonard also suffered a late ankle injury against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he dropped 37 points in his next matchup on a day’s rest. However, this showing from Leonard has only translated into one win. Aside from Bennedict Mathurin, who has been performing well for the Clippers since joining the team at the trade deadline, consistent scoring has been hard to find.
LA Clippers Off To Sluggish Post-All-Star Break Start
Three-Point Inconsistency
The Clippers’ three-point inconsistency has been apparent, with them only shooting just 27.3% since the All-Star break. For a team that relies heavily on the long ball, they are dying by it with their latest performances. A missed wide-open three from Mathurin earned them their latest loss against the Orlando Magic. In that matchup, the Magic shot 8-for-23 from three, and the Clippers, not to be outdone, shot 5-for-23, failing to capitalize on the Magic’s poor shooting. Unquestionably, their lack of three-point consistency has cost Los Angeles wins coming out of the All-Star Break.
Feb 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) dribbles the ball against LA Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A Growing Defensive Problem
The Clippers’ problems out of the gate have been on both sides of the ball. In their last three games, they have a defensive rating of 116. They are allowing opponents easy opportunities to score. They have struggled to slow the pace of the game to their opponent’s tempo. This, paired with ice-cold shooting beyond the arc, makes it hard to build any momentum and develop a sizeable lead.
Poor defense and shooting leave them little margin for error, which has been everything in their last three contests that have gone down to the wire. They are finding it difficult to close out games and are playing against teams that execute well in the closing minutes.
As a result of their rough start, the Clippers are now the 10th seed in the Western Conference. They currently stand with a record of 27-30. They are still in good shape, five games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies. However, if they continue to play at this level, they could find themselves outside of the play-in.
There is still a slim margin of error, but a losing streak could undo all the progress they made before the break to turn their season around. With Leonard still playing at an elite level, the team just needs to build chemistry and find their identity to finish out the season strong.
The schedule ahead isn’t easy, as three of their next five opponents are in the playoff picture, but these games will determine if the Clippers are serious contenders or if Leonard was correct in his assessment of the season.
Featured Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images