The Playoffs are here! After 82 games and the Play-In Tournament, the road to the championship has begun. Saturday brought a series of Game 1s, including a heated battle between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. At Ball Arena, fans witnessed one of the toughest matchups that even led to OT. Ty Lue and Co. fought hard and hoped to steal the win. But sadly, that didn’t happen.
Facing the No. 1 team in offensive transition, the Clippers needed a sharper game plan. Yet, one costly mistake handed them a 0-1 setback in this crucial 7-game series. A face-off vs. the Nuggets is never an easy one to go through. Especially with a wall named Nikola Jokic on the other end, it can be game over at any point. Never let the Serbian giant loose! But to have 20 turnovers in a game that matters the most? Oh boy!
Ty Lue and James Harden spew out their disappointment in their turnover disaster
So, of course, Ty Lue isn’t happy about it, nor is James Harden. The Beard chipped in a solid 32 points, but what’s the point of such a score when it doesn’t lead to a win? Thus, after the game, the Clippers’ head coach sat before the media in a postgame press conference. And in his no-nonsense tone, the 47-year-old spoke his mind. Does Ty feel satisfied with the team’s effort taking it to OT, and what does he expect from them in the next game?
“Win, like, yeah, we expect to win. Like, we’re not happy because we went to overtime,” Ty Lue informed the media. “Like, they’re a good team and we’re a good team as well. We just got to do what we’re supposed to do. Take care of the basketball, keep them off the glass, and then we’ll be fine.” He acknowledged the Nuggets as a strong team but emphasized that the Clippers are just as capable. According to him, the key to bouncing back is simple: protect the ball, control the boards, and stick to the game plan.
“But if you turn over 20 times…” Lue continued, “…against a team that is number one in offensive transition, then you’re going to lose the game. And so we understand that. We just got to be better.” The Clippers’ 20 turnovers highlighted costly internal mistakes in Game 1. Even Kawhi Leonard, typically reliable, committed seven of them. These errors from key players derailed their shot at a crucial win.
Nov 30, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyrone Lue speaks with guard James Harden (1) during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, James Harden, too, confronted the turnover disaster before the media. “Turnovers, that was just unforced, that’s the simplest the game right there. It’s nothing they did, it’s us. All us,” he said. However, the team’s confidence hasn’t wavered despite the loss.
He admitted the mistakes were frustrating since they were avoidable and not typical of their recent form. Still, he aims to bounce back stronger in Game 2. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard’s troubling turnover record on Saturday needs to be talked about.
Kawhi Leonard’s 7-turnover debacle cost the Clippers their first win
Kawhi Leonard had a rough night. He dropped just 22 points and was behind nearly 1/3rd of the Clippers’ 20 turnovers. The two-time DPOY and Finals MVP—known for his calm dominance—struggled to leave his mark. Why? Denver’s defense was relentless. Aaron Gordon, his primary shadow, was a nightmare matchup. Strong, quick, and smart, Gordon stuck to Kawhi like glue. He’d done it before. This time, he just turned up the heat.
But Gordon wasn’t alone. The Nuggets had a plan—and it worked. They blitzed Leonard with double teams, cutting off his rhythm and forcing him to think fast. Too fast. The pressure made him a playmaker under fire, not a scorer in control. That’s where things spiraled. Those 7 turnovers weren’t just slips—they were the cracks in the Clippers’ armor. Denver found them. And they kept pushing until the game slipped away.
Mar 21, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) warms up prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Therefore, Game 1 slipped through the LA Clippers‘ fingers, despite Ty Lue’s firm belief in their ability to bounce back. Meanwhile, James Harden’s solid performance couldn’t overshadow the turnover disaster that cost them the win. Both know they have to tighten up in Game 2—fewer mistakes, more control. The pressure’s on to redeem themselves.
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