The Los Angeles Clippers came mighty close to getting their second win of the season as they lost to the Miami Heat 117-116 at Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. However, Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 35 points as the Los Angeles fell short in agonizing fashion.
Keaton Wagler, who has been an important off-the-bench presence for the Clippers in the eight games thus far, was left underutilized by Tyronn Lue in the clash. And well, the Clippers HC explained his decision post-game, per a post on X by ClutchPoints.
“That’s just what I felt like,” he said. “That’s just what I saw in the game.”
Wagler played for 16 minutes in the clash, comprehensively fewer than the 25 minutes he has averaged per appearance in the season thus far. While he finished with 11 points, two rebounds and an assist, going 3-6 from the field and 3-4 from the three-point zone, the decision appears to be solely down to Lue.
Both teams have had mixed starts to the season, with the Heat opening the campaign with four straight losses. The Clippers, on the other hand, are still waiting for their fortunes to turn and are now 1-7 for the season.
Regardless, this loss will especially hurt because the Clippers entered the final quarter with a nine-point lead and were then forced into overtime, where they were narrowly edged out 10-9. Darius Garland led his team in scoring with 26 points and seven assists while Rui Hachimura finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Brook Lopez had 20 points along with eight rebounds, but it was the Heat that had the last laugh. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while Klay Thompson turned back the clock. He had 30 points and eight made three-pointers as the Heat earned their third win in four games.
Miami will now travel to take on the Golden State Warriors, while the Clippers are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans at home.
The post Clippers’ Tyronn Lue explains why Keaton Wagler saw limited minutes in crushing Heat loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.
