Depleted Clippers share the ball to take down Heat

LOS ANGELES — The task was a tall one, and even without Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Patrick Beverley … and Nicolas Batum, these Clippers were up for it.

Down those four starters on the second night of a back-to-back and facing a surging Miami Heat team whose only loss in its past five games came to sizzling Utah, the depleted Clippers more than gave their guests a game – they sent them away from Staples Center with a 125-118 loss.

Led by Marcus Morris’ season-high 32 points, Ivica Zubac’s season-high 22, and a second consecutive 10-assist effort from Lou Williams, the Clippers (21-8) went back and forth with the Heat (11-16) before pulling away with a 19-8 run midway through the fourth quarter.

Terance Mann started and chipped in with a season-high 15 points, and two-way second-year wing Amir Coffey added 15 too, sinking a career-high five 3-pointers just four days after he’d played for the Agua Caliente Clippers in the G League bubble near Orlando, Florida.

“I was joking with him,” Mann said. “He shot 14 3s last game in the G league, so I was like, ‘Oh so I see what you were preparing for. You were preparing for this game!’”

“He’s the X-factor tonight,” Clippers guard Reggie Jackson said. “Amir Coffey played great for us, I think he’s trying not to be sent back down. I think he’s trying to prove why he deserves to be here, that he’s a player in this league and the best part is he just stayed ready.”

That’s been the name of the game for the Clippers, for whom the hits have just keep coming: On Monday they were missing superstars Leonard (lower leg contusion) and George (swollen right toe bone), their emotional leader Beverley (rest) and their go-to glue guy Batum (concussion).

Without them, Jackson was called into starting duty for the 11th consecutive game, gritting out six points and eight assists in 24 minutes despite a banged-up shoulder.

And Williams, who started for the second time this season, came on strong late as is typical, providing another of his patented fourth-period flourishes, with seven of his 18 points coming late to help the Clippers put a ribbon on their fourth consecutive victory.

Luke Kennard helped in that regard too, making all three of his fourth-period shots – including two key late-game 3-pointers. Zubac didn’t miss in the final quarter either, accounting – like Kennard – for eight points in the final frame to deny Miami in its attempt to avenge their 18-point blown lead in a loss to the Clippers on Jan. 28.

The Heat had stellar efforts from stars Jimmy Butler (30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) and Bam Adebayo (27 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists) and, off the bench, Tyler Herro (27 points) – but the Clippers’ united front prevailed.

“All of our guys are ready to play, man,” said Coach Tyronn Lue, whose team kept the ball moving for another 31 assists – the same tally as in Sunday’s victory over Cleveland.

That’s notable because it proved Lue’s point: “Just a total team effort.”

Echoed Morris: “Just a great, great all-around win.”

Morris’ performance was reminiscent of his career-high 38-point effort against the Clippers in January 2020, when he was the top dog on the New York Knicks.

These days, he’s coming off the bench and being paid $64 million for the next four years to contribute as one of the options on a Clippers team with championship aspirations – and, they signaled Monday, championship-caliber depth as they shot 55 percent (47 for 85), including a 15-for-32 mark from 3-point range.

In his first start of the season, the 31-year-old Philadelphia native reminded everyone he’s a dangerous option to have at the ready.

Morris went 11 for 16 from the field and 6 for 8 from 3-point range, scoring 26 points in the first half to launch the Clippers on the right path against last season’s Eastern Conference champions, keeping up his recent hot streak in which he’s shot 24 for 39 (61.5%) from 3-point range in the past six games.

It’s the type of output that’ll help a team comfortably weather important missing personnel – but no big thing to a veteran such as Morris, he insisted.

“One thing you’ll find out about me is I’m never too high, never too low,” he said. “We got two big games coming up. This game is over with, I ain’t even trippin’.”

Indeed, now the Clippers will turn their attention to Utah. Their next two games, on Wednesday and Friday at Staples Center, will be against the Western Conference-leading Jazz, who on Monday defeated East-leading Philadelphia, 134-123, for their eighth consecutive victory and 19th in 20 games.

“Those will be two good wins for us if we get those,” Morris said. “So we’re excited.”

Marcus Morris Sr. stuck on automatic!

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LAC up 5 at the half NBA TV pic.twitter.com/ph4NMgZ6Nx

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2021

BIG ZUUUUUU had 22 points and 8 boards for the @LAClippers 2nd unit tonight!#ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/lyNwU5bztr

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 16, 2021

.@ivicazubac putting in work on both ends. @FoxSportsWest | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/S1GJCf6F7N

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 16, 2021

Lou Will with a WILD dime! @LAClippers 92@MiamiHEAT 91

4Q underway NBA TV pic.twitter.com/9KVjtwMN5j

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2021

Ty Lue was up to the task of leading a seriously shorthanded @LAClippers squad to a win tonight at Staples!#ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/PtVO9LifGZ

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 16, 2021

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