Clippers’ identity makes them a threat

Inglewood, CA – The Clippers dropped three straight games for the first time since mid-December, as they begin to show some growing pains during their slight rebuild.

LA fell 94-88 to the Timberwolves in what was one of the uglier offensive games of the season at the Intuit Dome, dropping their record to 27-31 on the season.

They had no business competing in this matchup with Kawhi Leonard and John Collins both sitting against a fully healthy Minnesota team, but they were in it right until the end, which has become a pattern recently.

The three losses during this stretch have come by a combined 11 points, all against teams that will be playing beyond the regular season. The Clippers have not played that poorly, but they have lost the midseason momentum that catapulted them into the postseason hunt.

Anthony Edwards took advantage of a short-handed Clippers team in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points, including a shot-clock-beating fadeaway three with 2 defenders on him to put the score out of reach.

In their current form, the Clippers certainly have an identity. The one thing this team definitely has is a scrappiness to it.

The demeanor they bring into matchups keeps them in games like tonight’s, when neither team can seem to find a groove on offense. The Clippers find a way to hang around until the very end, which at least gives them a puncher’s chance even when their opponent clearly has more talent on the floor.

Kris Dunn specifically ignites that fire and establishes a hard-nose approach each and every night.

As an undersized guard who does not shoot the three particularly well, he has survived in the NBA for 10 years by doing the dirty work on defense. Dunn may score only 6 points, grab a couple of rebounds, and dish out an assist, and still be one of the most impactful players on the floor.

His impact is not limited to his efforts on the defensive side of the ball but also to the mentality and hustle he instills in his teammates.

Being over the age of 30 with a stat line of 8, 3, and 3, Dunn will never be a player who demands a lot of money on the open market, and he only costs the Clippers right around $5.5 million next season. As LA ushers in a new core of players, they should see if Dunn is willing to sign on for another couple year beyond 2027.

There are very few veterans in the league making similar money to Dunn who are giving a team nearly 28 minutes a night of impactful basketball, making him a valuable asset moving forward. Even if he were to slide back into a more limited role, he does not count much against the salary cap and could be even more of an aggressor in those minutes.

Bennedict Mathurin, who is clearly one of the pieces the team wants to move into the future with, had his worst game since joining the Clippers.

In need of a scoring punch with Leonard out, Mathurin got the start and showed why he better serves as an elite six-man off the bench. He finished the night 4-14 from the field and ended a stretch of scoring at least 21 points in three straight games.

Derrick Jones Jr. is also solidifying himself as someone the franchise should keep around, potentially longer term. He feeds off Dunn’s energy, bringing athleticism and versatility to the rotation. He scored 18 against the Timberwolves while adding 2 blocks and a steal. Jones Jr. is also still under contract for one more season.

The Clippers will make some moves over the next few offseasons. If they manage to fill out the rest of their roster and allow Dunn, Mathurin, and Jones Jr. to star in their roles, the trio would form a dangerous secondary unit.

Right now, they are the backbone of the team, capable of keeping the Clippers in games as the primary players. So when they slide back into their main roles, they will do some serious damage to opponents.