Winning through adversity, not waiting for it to end
Los Angeles Clippers Game Facts & Context
Timeframe: December 20, 2025 to January 20, 2026, the Clippers surged from 6–21 to 19–24, going 13–3 during that stretch.
Tone-setter: Pregame on Dec. 20, Ty Lue emphasized health and third-quarter execution before a 103–88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Adversity: Injuries to Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr., and Bogdan Bogdanović forced constant lineup adjustments.
Depth impact: Jordan Miller, rookie guard Kobe Sanders, and rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser earned real rotation minutes and contributed.
Grind factor: The Clippers logged approximately 11,500 miles of air travel across multiple road swings, including East Coast trips and Canada.
What Are the Clippers Doing That No Other Team Is Doing?
On December 20, 2025, I sat in the Clippers press room before tipoff and raised my hand. As the microphone made its way over, I asked Ty Lue a simple but loaded question: Despite the current records, the Clippers sitting at 6–21 and the Lakers at 19–7, what kept him optimistic?
His answer was direct: health and execution coming out of halftime.
At that point, the Clippers had struggled mightily in third quarters, posting a minus-18 differential in the second half. Whatever adjustments needed to be made coming out of the locker room, Ty made it clear that was where the focus had to be.
That night, we saw it in real time.
The Clippers outscored the Lakers in the third quarter and went on to beat the defending 2020 champions 103–88. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 32 points, knocking down four three-pointers and nearly matching the Lakers’ entire team from beyond the arc. It was not just a win. It was a glimpse.
What followed was not luck. It was growth.
The Clippers went on a six-game winning streak before running into the 2023–24 NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in a 146–115 loss. It was a game where the score did not fully reflect the effort, as Boston had one of those nights where everything fell. The Clippers regrouped, defeated the 2022 champion Golden State Warriors in a 103–102 thriller, then headed east.
With just one day of rest, they dropped a tough one to the Knicks, 123–111. Instead of spiraling, they responded. They finished that East Coast swing with a 2–1 record, returned home to handle Charlotte and Washington, then flew to Canada where they beat the 2019 champions in overtime, 121–117. The stretch ended with a loss to Chicago, a game that slipped away in the second quarter.
Since that moment of optimism from Ty Lue on December 20, the Clippers have climbed from 6–21 to 19–24, losing only three games in that span. It has not been clean. It has not been comfortable. But it has been real.
Adversity, Injuries, and Forced Growth
This stretch has not been smooth or linear. The Clippers have had to navigate injuries to Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Derrick Jones Jr., and Bogdan Bogdanović, forcing constant rotation adjustments and lineup flexibility. Kawhi has dealt with knee issues more than once during this run. Zubac has missed time in the middle. Derrick Jones Jr.’s absence impacted perimeter defense and athleticism. Bogdanović’s injury removed a reliable scoring option. There has been very little consistency in personnel, yet the approach has remained steady.
Rather than stall, the team adapted.
Those injuries opened real minutes for younger players who had to be ready immediately. Jordan Miller, rookie guard Kobe Sanders, and rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhäuser did not just fill space. They filled needs. Miller provided scoring and rebounding in extended stretches. Sanders brought timely perimeter energy and confidence as a rookie. Niederhäuser held his own as a center when called upon in limited but meaningful frontcourt minutes. This was survival basketball, and the young players responded.
What stood out most was that the Clippers did not abandon structure. They stayed disciplined defensively, shared the ball offensively, and leaned into effort plays when shot-making was not guaranteed. Winning through injury required trust, and this group showed it.
Winning Through the Grind
This run did not happen in one building. It happened across the country.
From December 20 through January 20, the Clippers lived out of suitcases. Factoring in road swings to Portland, New York, Brooklyn, Detroit, Toronto, Washington, and Chicago, the team covered roughly 11,500 miles of air travel between game cities. That kind of mileage tests legs, focus, and depth.
The Clippers did not wait to be whole to find momentum. They played through uncertainty, leaned on depth, and found ways to compete night after night. The result is not just a better record. It is a clearer identity built on adaptability, resilience, and accountability.
Setting the Stage for the Lakers
Now, the Clippers turn back to the Lakers on January 22 at Intuit Dome.
The Lakers come in off a win over Denver. LeBron James, deep into his 23rd season, will still command heavy minutes and look to put on a show. Kawhi Leonard has been upgraded to questionable, another reminder that nothing with this group is guaranteed.
I’m not here to convince anyone. I just want to offer a different perspective on what’s actually happening with this team right now.
This Clippers team should no longer be defined by who is missing. They should be defined by how they are responding. They have played through injuries, travel, youth mistakes, and adversity, and still emerged with one of the strongest records in the West over this recent stretch.
What began as optimism has turned into proof.
And that is what makes this next matchup matter.
