2020–21 Los Angeles Clippers season
NBA Sports team season
NBA professional basketball team season
Kawhi Leonard played his second season with the Clippers. He made his fifth All-Star appearance and was named to his third All-NBA First Team , but missed the Western Conference finals with a partially torn ACL .[ 1] (Pictured in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors )
Paul George played his second season with the Clippers. He was named to his seventh All-Star team as a reserve. (Pictured in 2014 with the Indiana Pacers )
The 2020–21 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 51st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 43rd season in Southern California , and their 37th season in Los Angeles .
On September 28, 2020, the Clippers and head coach Doc Rivers mutually agreed to part ways after seven seasons with the team.[ 2] On October 20, 2020, the Clippers promoted Tyronn Lue as their new head coach.[ 3]
The Clippers made the deepest playoff run in their 51-year history. They advanced to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history after defeating the Utah Jazz in six games in the conference semifinals. Their run would come to an end against the Phoenix Suns (who were led by former Clippers star Chris Paul ) in the conference finals, losing in six games.
The Clippers were the first and only team to come back from down 2–0 more than once in the same season,[ 4] denying the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz a chance at a 3–0 series lead, a deficit which no team in NBA history has ever come back from in a playoff series.
Draft
Roster
2020–21 Los Angeles Clippers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G/F
33
Batum, Nicolas
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1988-12-14
France
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
C
15
Cousins, DeMarcus
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
270 lb (122 kg)
1990-08-13
Kentucky
G
11
Ferrell, Yogi
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
178 lb (81 kg)
1993-05-09
Indiana
G/F
13
George, Paul
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1990-05-02
Fresno State
F/C
9
Ibaka, Serge
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1989-09-18
Republic of the Congo
G
1
Jackson, Reggie
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
1990-04-16
Boston College
G
5
Kennard, Luke
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
206 lb (93 kg)
1996-06-24
Duke
F
2
Leonard, Kawhi
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
225 lb (102 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
F
8
Morris, Marcus
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1989-09-02
Kansas
C
10
Oturu, Daniel
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1999-09-20
Minnesota
F
54
Patterson, Patrick
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1989-03-14
Kentucky
G
4
Rondo, Rajon
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1986-02-22
Kentucky
G
0
Scrubb, Jay (TW)
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
2000-09-01
John A. Logan
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: June 27, 2021
Roster notes
Guard Rajon Rondo is the 30th former Lakers player to play for the Clippers.
Center DeMarcus Cousins signed with the Lakers last season but got injured before the start of season and never actually got to play wearing the Lakers uniform.
Standings
Reggie Jackson played his second season with the Clippers and had a breakout postseason, starting 17 of 19 games.[ 5] (Pictured in 2017 with the Detroit Pistons )
Rajon Rondo played his first season with the Clippers after being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks for Lou Williams and two future round draft picks.[ 6] (Pictured in 2017 with the New Orleans Pelicans )
Division
Conference
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
pb – Clinched play-in spot
o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* – Division leader
Game log
Preseason
2020 preseason game log Total: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
Preseason: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
2020–21 season schedule
Regular season
2020–21 game log Total: 47–25 (home: 26–10; road: 21–15)
December: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
January: 12–4 (home: 6–1; road: 6–3)
February: 8–7 (home: 4–4; road: 4–3)
March: 8–5 (home: 5–1; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
37
March 2
@ Boston
L 112–117
Paul George (32)
Ivica Zubac (10)
Reggie Jackson (7)
TD Garden 0
24–13
38
March 4
@ Washington
L 117–119
Kawhi Leonard (22)
Ivica Zubac (13)
Nicolas Batum (5)
Capital One Arena 0
24–14
39
March 11
Golden State
W 130–104
Kawhi Leonard (28)
Serge Ibaka (14)
Paul George (5)
Staples Center 0
25–14
40
March 14
@ New Orleans
L 115–135
Kawhi Leonard (23)
Terance Mann (7)
Luke Kennard (4)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
25–15
41
March 15
@ Dallas
W 109–99
Kawhi Leonard (22)
Ivica Zubac (11)
Kawhi Leonard (7)
American Airlines Center 3,945
26–15
42
March 17
@ Dallas
L 89–105
Paul George (28)
George , Leonard , Morris Sr. , Zubac (7)
Kawhi Leonard (7)
American Airlines Center 3,975
26–16
43
March 20
Charlotte
W 125–98
Paul George (21)
Batum , George , Jackson , Zubac (5)
Paul George (10)
Staples Center 0
27–16
44
March 22
Atlanta
W 119–110
Kawhi Leonard (25)
Terance Mann (10)
Paul George (7)
Staples Center 0
28–16
45
March 24
@ San Antonio
W 134–101
Kawhi Leonard (25)
Ivica Zubac (8)
Batum , George , Jackson (4)
AT&T Center 3,224
29–16
46
March 25
@ San Antonio
W 98–85
Reggie Jackson (28)
George , Zubac (13)
George , Jackson (4)
AT&T Center 3,225
30–16
47
March 27
Philadelphia
W 122–112
Kawhi Leonard (28)
Ivica Zubac (11)
Paul George (9)
Staples Center 0
31–16
48
March 29
Milwaukee
W 129–105
Marcus Morris Sr. (25)
Leonard , Zubac (9)
Kawhi Leonard (8)
Staples Center 0
32–16
49
March 30
Orlando
L 96–103
Kawhi Leonard (28)
Ivica Zubac (13)
Reggie Jackson (7)
Staples Center 0
32–17
April: 11–4 (home: 7–1; road: 4–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
50
April 1
Denver
L 94–101
Kawhi Leonard (24)
Kawhi Leonard (12)
Paul George (5)
Staples Center 0
32–18
51
April 4
L. A. Lakers
W 104–86
Marcus Morris (22)
Kawhi Leonard (10)
Kawhi Leonard (8)
Staples Center 0
33–18
52
April 6
Portland
W 133–116
Paul George (36)
Kawhi Leonard (11)
Kawhi Leonard (12)
Staples Center 0
34–18
53
April 8
Phoenix
W 113–103
Paul George (33)
Paul George (7)
Rajon Rondo (9)
Staples Center 0
35–18
54
April 9
Houston
W 126–109
Kawhi Leonard (31)
Ivica Zubac (7)
Terance Mann (9)
Staples Center 0
36–18
55
April 11
Detroit
W 131–124
Marcus Morris (33)
Ivica Zubac (10)
Paul George (9)
Staples Center 0
37–18
56
April 13
@ Indiana
W 126–115
Paul George (36)
Paul George (8)
George , Jackson , Mann , Rondo (2)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 0
38–18
57
April 14
@ Detroit
W 100–98
Reggie Jackson (29)
Ivica Zubac (13)
Rajon Rondo (4)
Little Caesars Arena 750
39–18
58
April 16
@ Philadelphia
L 103–106
Paul George (37)
Paul George (9)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Wells Fargo Center 4,094
39–19
59
April 18
Minnesota
W 124–105
Paul George (23)
Kawhi Leonard (11)
Kawhi Leonard (18)
Staples Center 1,734
40–19
60
April 20
@ Portland
W 113–112
Paul George (33)
Paul George (11)
Rajon Rondo (7)
Moda Center 0
41–19
61
April 21
Memphis
W 117–105
Luke Kennard (28)
DeMarcus Cousins (10)
Ferrell , Mann (7)
Staples Center 1,782
42–19
62
April 23
@ Houston
W 109–104
Paul George (33)
Paul George (14)
Batum , Jackson (5)
Toyota Center 3,313
43–19
63
April 26
@ New Orleans
L 103–120
Terance Mann (17)
DeMarcus Cousins (11)
Jackson , Rondo (5)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
43–20
64
April 28
@ Phoenix
L 101–109
Paul George (25)
Paul George (10)
Paul George (10)
Phoenix Suns Arena 5,917
43–21
May: 4–4 (home: 2–2; road: 2–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
65
May 1
Denver
L 104–110
Paul George (20)
Paul George (7)
Paul George (7)
Staples Center 2,818
43–22
66
May 4
Toronto
W 105–100
George , Morris Sr. (22)
Paul George (9)
Jackson , Leonard , Rondo (5)
Staples Center 1,714
44–22
67
May 6
L. A. Lakers
W 118–94
Paul George (24)
Leonard , Zubac (8)
Kawhi Leonard (6)
Staples Center 3,275
45–22
68
May 9
New York
L 100–106
Kawhi Leonard (29)
George , Rondo , Zubac (8)
Rajon Rondo (8)
Staples Center 2,578
45–23
69
May 11
@ Toronto
W 115–96
Leonard , Mann (20)
Ivica Zubac (10)
Batum , George , Rondo (4)
Amalie Arena Limited seating
46–23
70
May 13
@ Charlotte
W 113–90
Paul George (22)
Ivica Zubac (11)
Kawhi Leonard (9)
Spectrum Center 4,442
47–23
71
May 14
@ Houston
L 115–122
Luke Kennard (23)
Serge Ibaka (7)
Rajon Rondo (13)
Toyota Center 3,803
47–24
72
May 16
@ Oklahoma City
L 112–117
Terance Mann (19)
Daniel Oturu (12)
Beverley , Patterson (4)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
47–25
2020–21 season schedule
Playoffs
2021 playoff game log Total: 10–9 (home: 5–5; road: 5–4)
First Round: 4–3 (home: 1–3; road: 3–0)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
May 22
Dallas
L 103–113
Kawhi Leonard (26)
Kawhi Leonard (10)
George , Leonard (5)
Staples Center 6,117
0–1
2
May 25
Dallas
L 121–127
Kawhi Leonard (41)
Paul George (12)
Rajon Rondo (7)
Staples Center 6,885
0–2
3
May 28
@ Dallas
W 118–108
Kawhi Leonard (36)
Kawhi Leonard (8)
George, Jackson (4)
American Airlines Center 17,705
1–2
4
May 30
@ Dallas
W 106–81
Kawhi Leonard (29)
Kawhi Leonard (10)
Rajon Rondo (4)
American Airlines Center 17,761
2–2
5
June 2
Dallas
L 100–105
Paul George (23)
Ivica Zubac (11)
George, Rondo (6)
Staples Center 7,428
2–3
6
June 4
@ Dallas
W 104–97
Kawhi Leonard (45)
Paul George (13)
Paul George (6)
American Airlines Center 18,324
3–3
7
June 6
Dallas
W 126–111
Kawhi Leonard (28)
Kawhi Leonard (10)
Paul George (10)
Staples Center 7,342
4–3
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
June 8
@ Utah
L 109–112
Kawhi Leonard (23)
Paul George (11)
Rajon Rondo (5)
Vivint Arena 18,007
0–1
2
June 10
@ Utah
L 111–117
Reggie Jackson (29)
George, Morris Sr. (10)
Paul George (6)
Vivint Arena 18,007
0–2
3
June 12
Utah
W 132–106
Kawhi Leonard (34)
Kawhi Leonard (12)
George, Leonard (5)
Staples Center 8,185
1–2
4
June 14
Utah
W 118–104
George, Leonard (31)
Paul George (9)
Batum , George (4)
Staples Center 8,474
2–2
5
June 16
@ Utah
W 119–111
Paul George (37)
Paul George (16)
Paul George (5)
Vivint Arena 18,007
3–2
6
June 18
Utah
W 131–119
Terance Mann (39)
Paul George (9)
Reggie Jackson (10)
Staples Center 17,105
4–2
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
2021 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
Trades
Free agency
Re-signed
Additions
Subtractions
Notes
^ Formerly Fox Sports West until March 31, 2021.
References
^ Esnaashari, Farbod. "Report: Expectation That Kawhi Leonard Could Miss 2021-2022 Season" . Sports Illustrated LA Clippers News, Analysis and More . Retrieved August 12, 2021 .
^ Reynolds, Tim (September 28, 2020). "Doc Rivers out as LA Clippers coach after 7 seasons" . NBA.com . Retrieved September 28, 2020 .
^ "Clippers Name Tyronn Lue Head Coach" . NBA.com . October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020 .
^ Esnaashari, Farbod (June 19, 2021). "Clippers Players Say Fans 'Deserve it' After Reaching First Conference finals Ever" . si.com . Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ Kram, Zach (June 30, 2021). "Is Reggie Jackson's Postseason Heater Unprecedented?" . The Ringer . Retrieved August 12, 2021 .
^ "Lue calls 'fiery' Rondo just what Clippers need" . ESPN.com . March 25, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021 .
^ "LA Clippers Acquire Kennard, Patton, Scrubb and Four Second-Round Picks In Three-Team Deal" . NBA.com . November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 .
^ "LA Clippers Acquire Draft Rights to Daniel Oturu" . NBA.com . November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 .
^ "LA Clippers Re-Sign Forward Marcus Morris Sr" . NBA.com . November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020 .
^ "LA Clippers Re-Sign Forward Patrick Patterson" . NBA.com . November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020 .
^ "Denver Nuggets sign forward JaMychal Green" . NBA.com . November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020 .
^ "Lakers Sign Montrezl Harrell" . NBA.com . November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020 .
^ "SUNS SIGN MOORE, GALLOWAY & JONES" . NBA.com . November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020 .
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