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Clippers’ Tyronn Lue running short on big-man options

April 1, 2026

INGLEWOOD — Rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser is out for the season after having foot surgery. Isaiah Jackson, who has become a reliable backup center for the Clippers since being acquired at the trade deadline, is out for the time being because of a right ankle sprain.

Which leaves Clippers coach Tyronn Lue with two options: Play veteran Brook Lopez until his well-traveled knees wear thin or go with a smaller lineup, anchored by 6-foot-9 forward John Collins. Lue tried both Tuesday night and neither choice worked well in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lopez, who celebrated his 38th birthday on Wednesday, was on the court for 36 minutes – his third-highest total of the season – and toward the end was visibly tired. He scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds but was largely ineffective in stopping the bigger, more physical Blazers, who crashed the boards for 48 rebounds, 18 on the offensive side.

“It’s definitely concerning having to play him 36 minutes tonight, but Brook’s one of those types of guys that whatever we need, he’s willing to do,” Lue said. “I saw he got tired on the floor, but the way they killed us on the glass, it made sense to have a guy that’s 7-2 on the floor as much as we possibly could.

“We were just too small. And so, we got what we got, and we just got to figure out ways to get him rest and shorter stints maybe.”

Collins contributed 17 points and six rebounds but also couldn’t counter Portland’s Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday, who picked part the Clippers’ smaller lineup. Avdija scored 28 points and collected 11 rebounds and eight assists and Holiday led the Blazers with 30 points on 10-of-21 shooting (7 for 15 from 3-point range).

“There’s always room for improvement,” said Collins, who played 32 minutes. “(Tuesday night), the emphasis on the rebounds could have been a little better, but it’s really just a chemistry thing. Trying to get new groups of guys to play together again later on in the season can be tough and just got to battle through.”

The Clippers (39-37) will get tested again Thursday night when they host the red-hot San Antonio Spurs, who have won nine in a row and 25 of their past 27 games and feature 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama, the league’s fifth-leading rebounder (11.4) and leading shot-blocker (3.1) while scoring 24.5 points per game.

Lue took the blame for the team’s defensive breakdown with the smaller lineup, part of that due to a lack of practice time this month. The Clippers played 18 games in March with no consecutive days off. He said the Clippers “are just not very good” with the second unit.

“We’re just not there yet as far as playing with that small unit, and it hurt (Tuesday night),” Lue said. “We don’t know how to play offensively with the small unit yet. … I just thought offensively with a small unit, we were just running around all over the place, not sure what to run; we just gotta clean that up.”

DESERVING AWARDS

Lue said he would “absolutely” like to see Kawhi Leonard earn First Team All-NBA recognition for his career-best season and the work the seven-time All-Star, who is averaging 28.1 points per game on 50.3% shooting, has put in to get there.

“Just seeing him come back at the age of 34 with career high in points, the way he’s played, the way he has carried this team, I absolutely would want him to see him be a First Team All-NBA. It’d be huge for him,” Lue said.

But as far as Coach of the Year honors given how he has guided the team from a 6-21 start to the postseason? No, thank you, Lue said.

“I don’t think I deserve it because it’s not anybody’s fault that we started 6-21,” Lue said. “There’s (no award) for the coach of year the last half of season. It’s got to be the whole year, and I don’t think I’ve done enough to deserve that.

“Would it be a cool award? Yeah, I think it would be great to be noticed as one of the best coaches in the league … but I don’t think I deserve it this year, though.”

SPURS AT CLIPPERS

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Intuit Dome

TV/radio: FDSN SoCal/570 AM

Orange County Register

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Clippers’ Tyronn Lue running short on big-man options

DESERVING AWARDS

SPURS AT CLIPPERS

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