INGLEWOOD — There’s no question Kawhi Leonard drives the Clippers. He has steered them this season from the abyss to postseason contention.
The other veterans on the team, such as John Collins, Kris Dunn and Brook Lopez, have played a part in pulling the team from its 6-21 start to the .500 mark. But for as much experience as they bring, it is the youthful enthusiasm of the team’s young corps that can push them across the finish line of games.
Rookie Kobe Sanders, Jordan Miller, Cam Christie and newcomer Isaiah Jackson – all players who can be found at the end of the bench – fueled a comeback bid against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night [that ultimately fell short in a 119-115 loss](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/03/16/kawhi-less-clippers-cant-catch-spurs-down-the-stretch/).
Coach Tyronn Lue credited the group’s energy and effort for keeping the game close down the stretch. “Just competing, playing at a high level and what our young guys did … we needed every bit of it.”
What Lue found on his bench earlier this season were players who could not only score but defend multiple positions and play within his system without being a hero.
Miller and Sanders, then two-way contract players, and rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser before he suffered a season-ending foot injury – set themselves apart from the rest with their length and feel. The selfless play and solid production from Miller and Sanders earned them standard contracts last month.
Soon, Lue turned to them more often, saying “we need them.”
The Clippers needed them Monday against a team that they could see if they advance out of the Play-In Tournament. The Clippers (34-34) currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference and could potentially face the Spurs (50-18) if they advance.
And they are going to need everyone to step up if Leonard remains sidelined for their three-game trip, starting with Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Leonard sat out Monday’s game because of a sprained left ankle and is listed as day-to-day.
“I think in the first half, we kind of came out flat (against the Spurs),” said Miller, who is averaging 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists. “I think the first unit did a good job of setting the tempo and the tone, and then we didn’t do the best job of kind of carrying that up.
“But I think we picked it up in the second half, obviously, and we got it close. We just can’t get down that much – you know what I’m saying? That’s a big cushion for them to have.”
Jackson, a 24-year-old post player [who came to the Clippers in last month’s trade with the Indiana Pacers](https://www.ocregister.com/2026/02/05/clippers-trade-ivica-zubac-to-the-indiana-pacers/), has moved into the “young corps” conversation with his ability to get out in transition and run the floor.
In 11 games, he is averaging 6.5 points on 70.7% shooting from the field, and 5.3 rebounds.
“He’s a guy that we can switch one through five and put him on the perimeter, let him guard guards. He’s doing a good job with that as well,” Lue said.
#### LEARNING CURVE
Darius Garland has found a rhythm on offense in his seven games since joining the Clippers. He is averaging 19.9 points and 6.6 assists while shooting 45.9% from the field. But his turnovers are taking some of the luster off his offensive production.
The point guard matched his career-high in turnovers with eight against the Spurs; his previous high this season was six against the Denver Nuggets while he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the number isn’t alarming in the overall picture, Lue said he will sit down with Garland and watch film and see how they can better space the floor to get the point guard easier reads.
“We’re going to watch it together, me and him, and just kind of go over the turnovers, go over the shots, and find how we can be more efficient and we can be better,” Lue said. “And then we can see what we need more of, like him being aggressive.”
Lue said it’s going to take more than seven games for Garland to be comfortable in the Clippers’ offense.
“We haven’t had a lot of prior time to incorporate all the things we want to do,” Lue said. “He’s frustrated because he’s missing some easy layups around the basket that he usually makes. So, just his timing, getting his legs and then also being able to get his minutes up.
“He’ll be fine.”
#### CLIPPERS AT PELICANS
**When:** Wednesday, 5 p.m. PT
**Where:** Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
**TV/radio:** FDSN SoCal/570 AM