Clippers after deadline: Reaction after win over Oklahoma City
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Friday, as it turned out, had a lot to do with Saturday.
The groundwork for the Clippers’ 30th win as well as their biggest comeback of the season essentially started with a dismal performance in their loss at Phoenix on Friday night.
“It kind of rolled over, last night, us losing. The coaches were upset but a lot of the guys, including me, we were really upset,” said Randy Foye after the Clippers beat the Thunder, 98-92, on Saturday night at Staples Center. “Last night we knew we just didn’t bring it. They beat us. It kind of carried over into the first half (tonight), the effort we gave last night.
“Coach [Vinny Del Negro] came in and let us know: We’ve got to go out there and be tough. Tougher in the second half. That’s how we’ve got to play, four quarters, not just one quarter.”
Foye talked about the heated, intense game with the Thunder.
“The first half they kicked our butts and the second half we kicked their butts,” he said.
Eric Gordon, whose late three-pointer put the Clippers ahead for good in the last minute, said that the negative tenor and the spate of technicals in the second half might have helped the team get going.
“For sure, when we play with a sense of urgency, we can play at that type of level all the time,” he said. “It’s all about the players digging down and finding out who were are as a group and just go out there and play. We haven’t played with this type of fire in awhile.”
How long? Gordon had no idea, a telling non-statement.
--Lisa Dillman
