As perplexed as the Clippers were late Friday night by their lackluster effort against the Portland Trail Blazers, they maintained a measure of hope.
That's because the loss did not shatter the Clippers' postseason dreams, but time is running down on them to make their bid for a spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
They are within reach of the playoffs, holding the ninth spot that has left the Clippers two games behind the seventh-place Utah Jazz and eighth-place New Orleans Pelicans.
"We're right there. Nothing has changed," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said after Friday night's disjointed loss in Portland.