Clippers hope to improve before playoffs

All the Clippers know their play slipped quite a bit during March.

But they all also still think there is room for improvement with seven regular-season games left.

The Clippers were 7-7 last month, not quite the way a team wants to play heading into the playoffs.

“We didn’t finish a few games out,” Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro explained about the slump. “We had a couple of opportunities, but you have to be able to finish games out by getting stops or by making plays. And we missed a few opportunities, especially on the road.”

For the season, the Clippers are 21-17 on the road. But they were 2-5 on the road in March, including going 1-3 during last week’s trip.

“You’ve got to play better,” Del Negro said. “You win games by playing at a high level and consistently at a high level. You can talk about injuries, you can talk about the schedule, you can talk about all these things, but everyone goes through it. Some more than others. At the end of the day, you have to win games.”

Griffin suffering

Del Negro said Blake Griffin still has a swollen left calf injury that is causing the power forward some issues.

Griffin started Monday night against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center.

“Blake is a tough kid. He’ll fight through it and give us what he can,” Del Negro said. “I think it’s feeling a little bit better. The only thing that’s going to get it better is rest. And there’s no time for that right now.”

The Clippers have Tuesday off before playing again Wednesday night. Then they are off Thursday, Friday and Saturday before hosting the Lakers on Sunday.

Barnes plays with injury

Matt Barnes suffered a sprained left ankle against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, but he suited up and played for the Clippers on Monday.

“He’ll give us what he can,” Del Negro said.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner