The Clippers were forced to make another change to their starting lineup Monday, promoting rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in place of the injured Avery Bradley. Luckily for LA, what hasn’t changed is the productivity of its bench units, no matter who is playing.
Against Minnesota, with Gilgeous-Alexander in the starting lineup, head coach Doc Rivers turned to fellow rookie Jerome Robinson to fill Shai’s spot among the backups. It was the first time Robinson has played with this particular collection of players, but it didn’t matter. The lineup of Milos Teodosic, Lou Williams, Robinson, Mike Scott, and Montrezl Harrell was plus eight in a pivotal second-quarter run that gave the Clippers a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 120-109 victory.