Bogdan Bogdanovic was assessing his struggles in his first start with the Los Angeles Clippers when he indirectly captured the pulse of the team.
“It’s easy when everything is good, you know. Sometimes you can mask yourself with a couple wins,” Bogdanovic said. “But it’s good to see the real picture sometimes.”
The Clippers know their reflection could be more complete entering Wednesday’s visit to the Chicago Bulls. With starters Kawhi Leonard (left foot soreness) and Norman Powell (left patellar tendinopathy) sidelined along with reserve Ben Simmons (left knee injury management), Los Angeles lost 106-97 Monday at Detroit, its third defeat in a row and sixth in nine games.
Despite the slide, the Clippers held the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference before Tuesday’s action but stood just two games clear of 10th-place Sacramento for the final playoff spot above the play-in tournament.
Injuries and inconsistency have offered expanded opportunities to players such as Bogdanovic, acquired this month in a trade with Atlanta. Bogdanovic has hit double figures in three of his five games with the Clippers, but knows he must improve after slumping to 2-for-20 from 3-point range in the past two games.
“I’m trying to find myself in a role in the team and fit in,” he said, “and the most important for me is to find a way (that’s) contributing to winning.”
Chicago stopped a season-long six-game losing streak with Monday’s 142-110 road rout of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Josh Giddey recorded his third straight double-double for the Bulls, contributing 25 points and 16 rebounds to go with six assists.
As with Los Angeles, Chicago remains in postseason contention amid recent struggles. The Bulls hold a 1 1/2-game edge on Brooklyn for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference.
While the Bulls were short-handed themselves — Nikola Vucevic (calf) was a late scratch and Lonzo Ball left the game with a head laceration — their ability to keep churning against the depleted 76ers encouraged the locker room.
The Bulls set a season high in points and led by as many as 50.
“That’s a team we’re close to (in) the standings,” Giddey said, “so I’m feeling good, the guys are feeling good and this was a much-needed win for us to get back on the right track and hopefully produce some momentum going forward.”
Recent acquisitions Kevin Huerter (23 points) and Zach Collins (19 points) also contributed big games. The Bulls hope their acclimation keeps progressing for the stretch run.
“The (All-Star) break was a big mental refresh,” Huerter said. “Coming back and ready to get going and turn the page and start with this organization and be confident in who I am.”
Chicago eyes a sweep of the season series following a 112-99 road win against the Clippers on Jan. 20. Giddey approached a triple-double in that game with 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Powell (27 points) and James Harden (17 points) led five Clippers in double figures.
Giddey has finished in double figures in five of his past six games versus Los Angeles.
