Kawhi-less Clippers can’t keep pace with Giannis, Bucks
The Clippers’ Norman Powell, right, is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks guard Jevon Carter during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to pass as the Clippers’ Terance Mann defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwauke Bucks center Brook Lopez shoots over Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, and Clippers guard Amir Coffey scramble for a loose ball during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Milwauke Bucks’ MarJon Beauchamp handles the ball as the Clippers’ Paul George defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, left, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Sandro Mamukelashvili defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo attempts a shot as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, center, shoots as Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr., left, defends along with forward Robert Covington during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket between the Clippers’ Norman Powell, back, and Paul George, right, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, tries to shoot as he falls to the court while under pressure from Clippers forward Paul George during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Antetokounmpo had 35 points as the Bucks pulled away for a 119-106 win. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Clippers’ Norman Powell shoots as Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwauke Bucks center Brook Lopez shoots between the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, left, and Brandon Boston Jr. during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scores on a layup past the Clippers’ Terance Mann during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo gestures after scoring during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Clippers’ Norman Powell shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Milwauke Bucks’ Jrue Holiday drives to the basket past the Clippers’ Brandon Boston Jr., back, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to shoot as the Clippers’ Robert Covington, right, and Ivica Zubac, left, defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to pass while lying on the court in front of the Clippers’ Amir Coffey, top, and Brandon Boston Jr., right, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue of the reacts on the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket as the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, left, and Norman Powell, right, defend during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo attempts a shot between the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, left, Paul George, front, and Robert Covington, right, during the first half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Brandon Boston Jr. drives to the basket as the Milwaukee Bucks’ Jrue Holiday defends on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks guard MarJon Beauchamp, left, shoots as Clippers forward Moussa Diabate, center, and forward Robert Covington defend during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, left, and assistant head coach Charles Lee watch from the sidelines during their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots as Clippers forward Robert Covington defends during the second half on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Marcus Morris Sr. shoots a jumper between the Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez (11). Jrue Holiday (21) and Pat Connaughton (24) on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
From left, the Clippers’ Mason Plumlee, Eric Gordon and Bones Hyland watch from the bench during their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scores over Clippers center Ivica Zubac on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates his basket during their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Terance Mann scores in front of the Milwaukee Bucks’ MarJon Beauchamp, left, and Jrue Holiday, right, on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates his basket during their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Norman Powell reacts as he is fouled by the Milwaukee Bucks’ Jevon Carter on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, signs his shoes for a young fan after their victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, plays Rock Paper Scissors with a young fan to see if the fan gets his shoes after their victory over the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo gestures before their game against the Clippers on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — The Clippers were missing three familiar faces and that didn’t include Kawhi Leonard who sat out Friday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Yet they made the most of the changes after trades left them short-handed. They tried out rookie Brandon Boston Jr. in place of Leonard in the starting lineup, gave significant minutes to Amir Coffey and Robert Covington, and relied on All-Star Paul George for 28 minutes.
But that didn’t alter the outcome. For three quarters, the Clippers stayed close to the red-hot Bucks but couldn’t keep pace in the final quarter, eventually losing, 119-106, at Crypto.com Arena.
The new players – center Mason Plumlee, guard Bones Hyland and guard Eric Gordon joined their Clippers teammates on the bench, watching what lie ahead for them. Plumlee saw how he could help center Ivica Zubac, who had just six points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes.
Both Gordon and Hyland no doubt saw opportunities where their ball-handling skills could help as the Clippers (31-28) turned the ball over 10 times.
The Clippers could have used an extra set of hands in the fourth quarter as Giannis Antetokounmpo (35 points) and the Bucks (39-17) turned a close game into a 13-point victory to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
“I just liked our fight early on,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “You know, we got down early, I think 14-2. To keep fighting, and then build the lead again, back up to eight in that first half, and then tough play.
“We had a 50-50 ball and then Jrue Holiday picks it up in the corner and makes a 3 and cuts it to five. That’s kind of what got them going, got them rolling. But I’m proud of our young guys. Some things that they did. Brandon, he was really good. He did a good job.”
George did what he could, scoring 19 points on 8-of-23 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds. On a series of back-and-forth baskets in the third quarter, George buried a 23-footer with 7:05 left, eclipsing 16,000 career points, making him one of 10 active NBA players with at least that many.
Norman Powell added 16 points but had only one 3-pointer, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 15 points.
Boston made the most of his first NBA start with 20 points and two rebounds.
George’s long 3-pointer gave the Clippers a brief 63-62 lead in the third quarter. Make that very brief.
Antetokounmpo, who had been fairly quiet in the first half, turned up his game, sparking a 13-6 run that gave the Bucks a 73-68 lead. The Bucks forward scored nine points in the third as the Bucks carried an 81-76 lead into the final quarter, then added 10 in the fourth.
“We didn’t make shots,” Lue said. “I thought we got some good looks early on and that kind of deflated us. But then we stuck with it and we came back.
“Like I said, our defense was really good. And then we were able to take the lead by eight after being down 12. And then in the third quarter, they kind of got going a little bit on us.”
Sluggish Clippers can’t catch Kyrie Irving, Mavericks in loss
The Bucks had considered resting Antetokounmpo on the second night of a back-to-back, listing him as probable to play against the Clippers. But Coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game that the two-time league MVP – who came into the game averaging 37.6 points, 14 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 61% from the floor during the Bucks’ winning streak – was going to play.
But he didn’t play anywhere near the level early that he did against the Clippers eight days ago when he blitzed them for 54 points, one shy of his career high. He had 16 points in the first half.
With Antetokounmpo on the bench and Kris Middleton out, Brook Lopez shouldered much of the offense in the early going and finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Jrue Holiday added 19 points.
“You have a 7-footer that shoots a 3-point shot (Lopez) and if you put a forward on Giannis, he’s going to attack the basket, get to the free-throw line, finish at the rim,” Lue said. “They put you in a tough predicament. That’s why they’re a good team and they won a championship a few years ago.”
It was the 20th game Leonard has missed this season while resting his surgically repaired right knee. The team fell to 9-11 in those games.
UP NEXT
The Clippers host Golden State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
