For some reason, the Clippers keep stumbling out of the gates. Like they have so many times this year, the Clippers fell behind big Sunday and had to claw back into a game, falling just short in a 97-93 loss to Golden State.
Inside the locker room, players are dumbfounded as to why a team talented enough to come back from 21 down is able to get into that position in the first place.
"I really don't know," Reggie Evans said four times. "You can't find heart. You've got to have it. You can't find determination. You've got to go out there and do it by any means necessary.
"If it takes you jumping 10 rows into the bleachers or into a fan, you've just got to do it."
Evans and guard Eric Bledsoe were among the few Clippers who played with energy consistently Sunday, and the two helped the team tie the game at 83 before Golden State pulled away.
"They changed the game," Chris Paul said. "Reggie Evans changed the game; Eric Bledsoe changed the game.
"We have to figure out a way to get that from everybody."
NOTES, QUOTES
Who was that masked man?
--Chris Paul is used to playing like a superhero. He's just not used to wearing a mask.
Paul suffered a nasal fracture Friday in San Antonio and, for the first time in his career, Paul had to wear a protective mask Sunday against the Warriors.
"This was my first time wearing it," Paul said. "I found out after the game in San Antonio that I'd probably have to wear one. It is what it is."
Paul played nearly 36 minutes Sunday and scored 23 points to go with three steals and five assists.
"It's different," he said. "But it doesn't inhibit anything. It's the first time I've been hit in the nose, and I guess there's a first time for everything."
--Forward Caron Butler bought the team "Lob City" sweatshirts. After Sunday's loss, Eric Bledsoe walked out of the locker room wearing one.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's the million-dollar question." -- Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro on why his team is playing from behind so frequently. The Clippers trailed Golden State by 21 before fighting back to lose 97-93 Sunday.
ROSTER REPORT
PLAYER NOTES:
--F Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 27 points and 12 rebounds. He struggled from the foul line, though, hitting just 7 of 15.
--F Caron Butler struggled again, scoring just one point in over 19 minutes. Butler was 0 for 6 from the floor, scoring two points or less for the third time in his last four games.
--F Reggie Evans sparked a second-half run Sunday with some unexpected scoring. He scored a season-high 11 points to go with 12 rebounds in under 21 minutes.
--G Chris Paul wore a mask to protect a nasal fracture he suffered Friday. The mask didn't slow him, though, as he finished with 23 points, five assists and three steals Sunday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Chauncey Billups (left Achilles tendon) underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon. Billups is out for the remainder of the season.
--G Chris Paul (nasal fracture) suffered the injury Friday at San Antonio. He played Sunday wearing a protective mask.
--F Kenyon Martin (sore ribs) didn't play for the second game in a row. Martin's been dealing with the injury over the last week. He's day-to-day.
ROTATION:
Starters:
--Point guard Chris Paul
--Shooting guard Randy Foye
--Small forward Caron Butler
--Power forward Blake Griffin
--Center DeAndre Jordan
Bench:
--Guard Mo Williams
--Forward Bobby Simmons
--Forward Reggie Evans
--Guard Eric Bledsoe
