The Clippers went from being out of sorts in the third and receiving a tongue-lashing from coach Doc Rivers for unsatisfactory play to down 18 points later in the quarter.
But it was not to be because poor late-game execution doomed the Clippers in their 109-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse before 17,923 fans.
But they simply blew every opportunity presented to them, turning the ball over on three consecutive trips down the court, ruining their comeback and sending the Clippers to 1-2 on a four-game trip that ends Sunday in Toronto, the Eastern Conference leader.