{"id":483186,"date":"2025-12-19T17:15:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T17:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/483186\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T17:15:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T17:15:49","slug":"tyronn-lue-still-holding-out-hope-for-la-despite-6-20-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/483186\/","title":{"rendered":"Tyronn Lue still holding out hope for LA despite 6-20 start"},"content":{"rendered":"

OKLAHOMA CITY \u2014 After Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> head coach Tyronn Lue addressed James Harden’s day-to-day status<\/a> due to a left calf contusion, he spoke on turning the regular season around. The Clippers entered Thursday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder tied with the Sacramento Kings for the second-worst record in the Western Conference standings (6-20).<\/p>\n

Still, Lue says, with only 26 of 82 games under his belt, there’s still plenty of regular-season games remaining for the Clippers to keep their playoff hopes alive<\/a>, he said, during his pregame media availability.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust gotta be better. The season\u2019s not over. I know how you preferenced your comment, but we\u2019re four games out of the Play-In,\u201d Lue said. \u201cThat\u2019s gotta be our mindset going forward. Then, once we get there, it\u2019s however many games it takes to get out of 6. We have to play better, which we have the last four out of five games. But we gotta be able to close out games and finish them. That’s what we’ve been struggling with.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of playing 48 minutes, we’ve been playing 37 minutes. It’s just not enough if you want to beat some of these good teams,\u201d Lue concluded.<\/p>\n

Ty Lue when asked about the Clippers\u2019 \u201cnon-contending\u201d season: \u201cGotta be better. The season\u2019s not over. I know how you preference your comment but we\u2019re 4 games out the Play-In.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s gotta be our mindset\u2026 once we get there, it\u2019s however many games it takes to get out of 6\u201d pic.twitter.com\/TGlZlSXY5P<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Josue Pav\u00f3n (@Joe_Sway) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The Clippers enter the Paycom Center, looking to snap a four-game skid against the defending champions.<\/p>\n

James Harden ruled out for Clippers due to lingering calf injury\"ClippersKiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

While head coach Tyronn Lue says Clippers veteran James Harden’s nagging calf injury<\/a> is day-to-day, facing the Thunder without their top scorer will be a challenge. Still, Lue believes his team is up for it, given how hard the Clippers have played of late. However, finishing games strongly remains an issue, which Lue addressed before the game.<\/p>\n

Lue knows how rare it is for Harden to miss games, which gives him an idea of how important rest is<\/a>, and for other Clippers players to step up in James’ absence.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he\u2019s out something\u2019s really wrong with him, and we understand that,\u201d Lue said. \u201cJust thought it was smart for him to try to get right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tyronn Lue says he\u2019s not very concerned over James Harden\u2019s left calf contusion, and says Harden is day-to-day<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he\u2019s out something\u2019s really wrong with him and we understand that\u2026 just thought it was smart for him to try to get right\u201d pic.twitter.com\/RBi4Ejodns<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Josue Pav\u00f3n (@Joe_Sway) December 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

After facing the Thunder on the road, the Clippers will host the Lakers on Saturday.<\/p>\n