2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers season
NBA Sports team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 50th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 42nd season in Southern California , and their 36th season in Los Angeles .
On July 5, 2019, 2-time NBA champion , Finals MVP , and Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard agreed to join the Clippers, on the condition that the team trade for 6-time NBA All-Star Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder . Also during the offseason, they re-signed two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection Patrick Beverley and three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner Lou Williams .[ 1] [ 2] Entering the season, many analysts expected the Clippers to contend for an NBA championship.[ 3] [ 4]
Despite a nagging shoulder injury and "load management " policy that caused stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard , respectively, to sit out multiple games, the Clippers were consistently at the top of the Western Conference standings. The Clippers improved on their 48–34 record last year after making the 8th seed in the Western Conference standings, finishing with a record of 49–23 (the equivalent of 56–26 in a full season) as the 2nd seed in the Western Conference, their highest seeded placement in franchise history. Kawhi Leonard was named a starter for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game by fans, current players, and media, and was later named the game's MVP .[ 5] Montrezl Harrell won the 2019-20 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award , joining Jamal Crawford and teammate Lou Williams as one of three players to win the award as members of the Clippers.[ 6]
The season was suspended by the league officials following the games of March 11[ 7] after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 .[ 8] On July 5, the NBA announced a return of the season which would involve 22 teams playing in the NBA Bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida .[ 9] Each of the remaining 22 teams played eight seeding games to determine positioning for the NBA playoffs.[ 9] Play resumed on July 30.[ 10]
The Clippers had a 5–3 record for their bubble seeding games to earn the 2nd seed in the Western Conference and then faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs . It was the first ever meeting between the two teams in the playoffs. The Clippers defeated the Mavericks in six games to win their first playoff series since 2015 , advancing to the semifinals. In Game 5 of the series, the Clippers set a franchise record for scoring 154 points in the NBA Playoffs. The 154-point mark was the third most of any team in NBA playoff history.[ 11] In the conference semifinals against the 3rd-seeded Denver Nuggets , the Clippers took a 3–1 series lead before ultimately losing in 7 games. The Clippers failed to hold double-digit leads in all three potential closeout games. Their elimination extends their drought of failing to reach the conference finals to 50 years, the longest amongst the four major professional sports leagues.
Following the Clippers' elimination from the playoffs, the team was roundly mocked on social media for their failure to win the championship.[ 12] The 2019–20 Clippers team has since been viewed as having one of the greatest postseason collapses in NBA history.[ 13] [ 14] [ 15]
The ensuing fallout from the Nuggets series caused Rivers to lose his position as head coach on September 28.[ 16]
Draft
The Clippers hold no first-round picks but holds two second-round picks. The 56th pick was traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with a 2020 second round draft pick for Mfiondu Kabengele .[ 17]
Roster
2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
21
Beverley, Patrick
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1988–07–12
Arkansas
G/F
7
Coffey, Amir (TW)
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1997–06–17
Minnesota
G
13
George, Paul
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1990–05–02
Fresno State
F
4
Green, JaMychal
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
227 lb (103 kg)
1990–06–21
Alabama
F
5
Harrell, Montrezl
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1994–01–26
Louisville
G
1
Jackson, Reggie
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
1990–04–16
Boston College
C
25
Kabengele, Mfiondu
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1997–08–14
Florida State
F
2
Leonard, Kawhi
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1991–06–29
San Diego State
G/F
14
Mann, Terance
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1996–10–18
Florida State
G
19
McGruder, Rodney
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1991–07–29
Kansas State
F
31
Morris, Marcus
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1989–09–02
Kansas
F
15
Motley, Johnathan (TW)
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1995–05–04
Baylor
C
55
Noah, Joakim
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
232 lb (105 kg)
1985–02–25
Florida
F
54
Patterson, Patrick
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1989–03–14
Kentucky
G
20
Shamet, Landry
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1997–03–13
Wichita State
G
23
Williams, Lou
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1986–10–27
South Gwinnett HS (GA)
C
40
Zubac, Ivica
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1997–03–18
Croatia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(GL) On assignment to G League affiliate(TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2020–03–09
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
Regular season
2019–20 game log Total: 49–23 (home: 27–9; road: 22–14)
October: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
November: 10–4 (home: 8–1; road: 2–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
7
November 3
Utah
W 105–94
Kawhi Leonard (30)
Zubac , Beverley (9)
Leonard , L.Williams , Beverley (3)
Staples Center 19,068
5–2
8
November 6
Milwaukee
L 124–129
Harrell , L.Williams (34)
Montrezl Harrell (13)
Lou Williams (11)
Staples Center 19,068
5–3
9
November 7
Portland
W 107–101
Kawhi Leonard (27)
Leonard , Zubac (13)
Lou Williams (8)
Staples Center 19,068
6–3
10
November 11
Toronto
W 98–88
Lou Williams (21)
Green , Beverley (12)
Kawhi Leonard (9)
Staples Center 19,068
7–3
11
November 13
@ Houston
L 93–102
Kawhi Leonard (26)
JaMychal Green (14)
Kawhi Leonard (7)
Toyota Center 18,055
7–4
12
November 14
@ New Orleans
L 127–132
Paul George (33)
Paul George (9)
Lou Williams (9)
Smoothie King Center 17,147
7–5
13
November 16
Atlanta
W 150–101
Paul George (37)
Green , Zubac (9)
Terance Mann (8)
Staples Center 19,068
8–5
14
November 18
Oklahoma City
W 90–88
Montrezl Harrell (28)
Montrezl Harrell (12)
Lou Williams (9)
Staples Center 19,068
9–5
15
November 20
Boston
W 107–104 (OT)
Lou Williams (27)
Patrick Beverley (16)
Paul George (8)
Staples Center 19,068
10–5
16
November 22
Houston
W 122–119
Lou Williams (26)
JaMychal Green (9)
Lou Williams (8)
Staples Center 19,068
11–5
17
November 24
New Orleans
W 134–109
Montrezl Harrell (34)
Montrezl Harrell (12)
Kawhi Leonard (6)
Staples Center 19,068
12–5
18
November 26
@ Dallas
W 114–99
Kawhi Leonard (28)
Leonard , Green (8)
Lou Williams (6)
American Airlines Center 20,407
13–5
19
November 27
@ Memphis
W 121–119
Harrell , L.Williams (24)
Montrezl Harrell (10)
Lou Williams (13)
FedExForum 16,721
14–5
20
November 29
@ San Antonio
L 97–107
Kawhi Leonard (19)
George , Green (8)
Leonard , L.Williams (7)
AT&T Center 18,354
14–6
December: 10–5 (home: 3–2; road: 7–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
21
December 1
Washington
W 150–125
Kawhi Leonard (34)
Montrezl Harrell (15)
Lou Williams (8)
Staples Center 19,068
15–6
22
December 3
Portland
W 117–97
Montrezl Harrell (26)
Leonard , Harrell (9)
Lou Williams (7)
Staples Center 19,068
16–6
23
December 6
@ Milwaukee
L 91–119
Kawhi Leonard (17)
Ivica Zubac (12)
Kawhi Leonard (4)
Fiserv Forum 17,732
16–7
24
December 8
@ Washington
W 135–119
Kawhi Leonard (34)
Kawhi Leonard (11)
George , L.Williams (6)
Capital One Arena 15,946
17–7
25
December 9
@ Indiana
W 110–99
Paul George (36)
Maurice Harkless (14)
Lou Williams (6)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 14,644
18–7
26
December 11
@ Toronto
W 112–92
Kawhi Leonard (23)
Ivica Zubac (8)
Lou Williams (8)
Scotiabank Arena 20,144
19–7
27
December 13
@ Minnesota
W 124–117
Paul George (46)
Kawhi Leonard (11)
Paul George (7)
Target Center 17,585
20–7
28
December 14
@ Chicago
L 106–109
Montrezl Harrell (30)
Montrezl Harrell (7)
Paul George (6)
United Center 18,426
20–8
29
December 17
Phoenix
W 120–99
Paul George (24)
Rodney McGruder (11)
Lou Williams (8)
Staples Center 19,068
21–8
30
December 19
Houston
L 117–122
Paul George (34)
George , Leonard (9)
Patrick Beverley (7)
Staples Center 19,068
21–9
31
December 21
@ San Antonio
W 134–109
Kawhi Leonard (26)
Montrezl Harrell (8)
Kawhi Leonard (9)
AT&T Center 18,354
22–9
32
December 22
@ Oklahoma City
L 112–118
Lou Williams (22)
Harrell , Zubac (8)
Lou Williams (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
22–10
33
December 25
@ L. A. Lakers
W 111–106
Kawhi Leonard (35)
Kawhi Leonard (12)
Lou Williams (7)
Staples Center 18,997
23–10
34
December 28
Utah
L 107–120
Paul George (20)
Ivica Zubac (12)
Lou Williams (9)
Staples Center 19,068
23–11
35
December 31
@ Sacramento
W 105–87
Kawhi Leonard (24)
Ivica Zubac (13)
Paul George (9)
Golden 1 Center 16,231
24–11
January: 9–4 (home: 5–2; road: 4–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
36
January 2
Detroit
W 126–112
Montrezl Harrell (23)
JaMychal Green (11)
Shamet , Leonard , L.Williams (5)
Staples Center 19,068
25–11
37
January 4
Memphis
L 114–140
Montrezl Harrell (28)
Ivica Zubac (11)
Lou Williams (7)
Staples Center 19,068
25–12
38
January 5
New York
W 135–132
Montrezl Harrell (34)
JaMychal Green (10)
Lou Williams (9)
Staples Center 19,068
26–12
39
January 10
Golden State
W 109–100
Kawhi Leonard (36)
Patrick Beverley (11)
Patrick Beverley (9)
Staples Center 19,068
27–12
40
January 12
@ Denver
L 104–114
Kawhi Leonard (30)
Ivica Zubac (9)
Patrick Beverley (7)
Pepsi Center 19,520
27–13
41
January 14
Cleveland
W 128–103
Kawhi Leonard (43)
Maurice Harkless (11)
Patrick Beverley (9)
Staples Center 19,068
28–13
42
January 16
Orlando
W 122–95
Kawhi Leonard (32)
JaMychal Green (13)
Patrick Beverley (7)
Staples Center 19,068
29–13
43
January 18
@ New Orleans
W 133–130
Kawhi Leonard (39)
Leonard , Beverley (6)
Leonard , Beverley (6)
Smoothie King Center 17,959
30–13
44
January 21
@ Dallas
W 110–107
Kawhi Leonard (36)
Kawhi Leonard (11)
L.Williams , Beverley (4)
American Airlines Center 19,783
31–13
45
January 22
@ Atlanta
L 95–102
Montrezl Harrell (30)
Montrezl Harrell (7)
Lou Williams (7)
State Farm Arena 14,338
31–14
46
January 24
@ Miami
W 122–117
Kawhi Leonard (33)
Montrezl Harrell (11)
Kawhi Leonard (10)
American Airlines Arena 19,632
32–14
47
January 26
@ Orlando
W 112–97
Kawhi Leonard (31)
Kawhi Leonard (14)
Kawhi Leonard (7)
Amway Center 15,427
33–14
—
January 28
@ LA Lakers
Postponed due to the Death of Kobe Bryant . Makeup date July 30 (Originally April 9) .[ 18] [ 19]
48
January 30
Sacramento
L 103–124
Lou Williams (22)
Ivica Zubac (10)
Lou Williams (6)
Staples Center 19,068
33–15
February: 7–4 (home: 5–1; road: 2–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
49
February 1
Minnesota
W 118–106
Kawhi Leonard (31)
Ivica Zubac (10)
Lou Williams (6)
Staples Center 19,068
34–15
50
February 3
San Antonio
W 108–105
Kawhi Leonard (22)
Paul George (12)
Paul George (8)
Staples Center 19,068
35–15
51
February 5
Miami
W 128–111
George , Shamet (23)
Ivica Zubac (8)
Paul George (10)
Staples Center 19,068
36–15
52
February 8
@ Minnesota
L 115–142
Kawhi Leonard (29)
Ivica Zubac (8)
Mann , L.Williams (5)
Target Center 18,978
36–16
53
February 9
@ Cleveland
W 133–92
Lou Williams (25)
Montrezl Harrell (9)
George , McGruder , Zubac (4)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 17,240
37–16
54
February 11
@ Philadelphia
L 103–110
Kawhi Leonard (30)
Paul George (12)
Kawhi Leonard (9)
Wells Fargo Center 20,730
37–17
55
February 13
@ Boston
L 133–141 (2OT)
Lou Williams (35)
Montrezl Harrell (13)
Lou Williams (8)
TD Garden 19,156
37–18
56
February 22
Sacramento
L 103–112
Kawhi Leonard (31)
Ivica Zubac (15)
Kawhi Leonard (5)
Staples Center 19,068
37–19
57
February 24
Memphis
W 124–97
Kawhi Leonard (25)
Ivica Zubac (10)
Jackson , L.Williams (6)
Staples Center 19,068
38–19
58
February 26
@ Phoenix
W 102–92
Kawhi Leonard (24)
Kawhi Leonard (14)
Kawhi Leonard (5)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,157
39–19
59
February 28
Denver
W 132–103
Paul George (24)
Montrezl Harrell (10)
Jackson , L.Williams (7)
Staples Center 19,068
40–19
March: 4–1 (home: 1–1; road: 3–0)
Seeding games: 5–3 (home: 2–2; road: 3–1)
2019–20 season schedule
Playoffs
2020 playoff game log Total: 7–6 (home: 3–4; road: 4–2)
First round: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
August 17
Dallas
W 118–110
Kawhi Leonard (29)
Kawhi Leonard (12)
Kawhi Leonard (6)
The Arena No In-Person Attendance
1–0
2
August 19
Dallas
L 114–127
Kawhi Leonard (35)
Leonard, George (10)
Lou Williams (7)
The Arena No In-Person Attendance
1–1
3
August 21
@ Dallas
W 130–122
Kawhi Leonard (36)
Leonard, George (9)
Kawhi Leonard (8)
The Arena No In-Person Attendance
2–1
4
August 23
@ Dallas
L 133–135 (OT)
Lou Williams (36)
Kawhi Leonard (9)
Lou Williams (5)
The Arena No In-Person Attendance
2–2
5
August 25
Dallas
W 154–111
Paul George (35)
Montrezl Harrell (11)
Reggie Jackson (5)
The Arena No In-Person Attendance
3–2
6
August 30
@ Dallas
W 111–97
Kawhi Leonard (33)
Kawhi Leonard (14)
George, Leonard (7)
The Arena No In-Person Attendance
4–2
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 1–3; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
September 3
Denver
W 120–97
Kawhi Leonard (29)
George , Green , Zubac (7)
George, Williams (4)
AdventHealth Arena No in-person attendance
1–0
2
September 5
Denver
L 101–110
Paul George (22)
JaMychal Green (11)
Kawhi Leonard (8)
AdventHealth Arena No in-person attendance
1–1
3
September 7
@ Denver
W 113–107
Paul George (32)
Kawhi Leonard (14)
Kawhi Leonard (6)
AdventHealth Arena No in-person attendance
2–1
4
September 9
@ Denver
W 96–85
Kawhi Leonard (30)
Kawhi Leonard (11)
Kawhi Leonard (9)
AdventHealth Arena No in-person attendance
3–1
5
September 11
Denver
L 105–111
Kawhi Leonard (36)
Leonard, Zubac (9)
Paul George (6)
HP Field House No in-person attendance
3–2
6
September 13
@ Denver
L 98–111
Paul George (33)
Ivica Zubac (12)
Kawhi Leonard (5)
AdventHealth Arena No in-person attendance
3–3
7
September 15
Denver
L 89–104
Montrezl Harrell (20)
Green, Leonard, Morris (6)
Beverley , Leonard, Williams (6)
AdventHealth Arena No in-person attendance
3–4
2020 playoff schedule
Player statistics
Regular season
Playoffs
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Clippers only.
Transactions
Overview
Players Added
Draft
Trade
Free agency
Two-way contract
Players Lost
Trade
Free agency
Waived
Trades
Free agency
Re-signed
Additions
Player
Signed
Former team
Amir Coffey
July 9, 2019, Two-way contract
Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA )
Kawhi Leonard [ 20]
July 10, 2019, 3-year contract worth $103 million
Toronto Raptors
Patrick Patterson
August 15, 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder
Derrick Walton, Jr.
October 21, 2019, Exhibit 10 contract
Alba Berlin (BBL )
Reggie Jackson
February 20, 2020
Detroit Pistons
Joakim Noah
March 9, 2020, 10-day contractJune 28, 2020, signed for rest of the season
Memphis Grizzlies
Subtractions
Player
Reason left
New team
Tyrone Wallace
Waived, July 6, 2019
Minnesota Timberwolves
Sindarius Thornwell
Waived, July 6, 2019
Cleveland Cavaliers
Garrett Temple
Free agency, July 8, 2019
Brooklyn Nets
Wilson Chandler
Free agency, July 8, 2019
Brooklyn Nets
Angel Delgado
Free agency, August 8, 2019
Beijing Royal Fighters (CBA )
Isaiah Thomas
Waived, February 8, 2020
New Orleans Pelicans
Notes
References
^ "Clippers to land Leonard, George" . espn.com . Retrieved July 5, 2019 .
^ "The Clippers Got Kawhi and Paul George, and Changed the NBA" . theringer.com. July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019 .
^ "Big questions, greatest edge for seven NBA title contenders" . ESPN.com . ESPN. August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019 .
^ Harper, Zach. "Zach Harper's 2019-20 NBA Team Tiers: Certified contender status" . theathletic.com . The Athletic Media Group. Retrieved October 22, 2019 .
^ "Lakers' LeBron James, Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo named starters and captains for 2020 NBA All-Star Game" . nba.com. Retrieved July 13, 2020 .
^ "Clippers' Montrezl Harrell wins 2019-20 Kia NBA Sixth Man Award" . NBA .
^ "NBA to suspend season following Wednesday's games" . NBA.com . March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020 .
^ Reynolds, Tim (March 11, 2020). "NBA suspends season until further notice, over coronavirus" . NBA.com . Retrieved March 12, 2020 .
^ a b "What we know and don't know about the NBA's return to play" . ESPN.com . June 5, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020 .
^ Blumenthal, Eli. "NBA restart: Everything you need to know about basketball's 2020 return" . CNET . Retrieved July 15, 2020 .
^ Ferdinand Cruz. "Clippers vs. Mavericks, Game 5: Paul George leads Los Angeles to lopsided win over Dallas | Viral NewsWeek" . Retrieved August 27, 2020 .
^ "NBA players show no mercy on Twitter in Clippers-Nuggets Game 7 shocker" . ESPN.com . ESPN. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020 .
^ Windhorst, Brian. "NBA playoffs: The Clippers' dynasty is on the clock before it can even begin" . ESPN.com . ESPN. Retrieved September 15, 2020 .
^ Caparell, Adam. "The Clippers Choked Away a Golden Opportunity" . Complex.com . Complex. Retrieved September 16, 2020 .
^ Buha, Jovan. " 'We came up short': Clippers complete one of the worst collapses in NBA history" . theathletic.com . The Athletic Media Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020 .
^ "Doc Rivers out as Clippers head coach after 7 seasons" .
^ "Full 2019 NBA Draft Order" . tankathon.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019 .
^ "NBA reschedules postponed Lakers, Clippers game for April 9 at Staples Center" .
^ "Lakers vs. Clippers game postponed" . NBA.com . NBA Media Ventures, LLC. January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020 .
^ "L.A. Clippers Sign Two-Time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard" . NBA.com/clippers . July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019 .
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