Image Source: Jared Knobloch
Key Takeaways
- The San Diego Clippers lost to the Iowa Wolves 105-98 in a back-to-back game
- The Clippers were shorthanded, with no two-way players or players on assignment, but still showed fight and adopted a "next guy up" mentality
- Hunter Sallis, the Clippers’ newest pickup, played in his second game for the team and showed promise
- Patrick Baldwin Jr. had a career-high 36 points and 7 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win for the Clippers
- The Clippers will face off against the South Bay Lakers in a rivalry game on January 14
Introduction to the Game
The San Diego Clippers played their second night of a back-to-back against the Iowa Wolves, and unfortunately, they came up short, losing 105-98. Despite being shorthanded, with no two-way players or players on assignment, the Clippers showed a lot of heart and fight, adopting a "next guy up" mentality. As Clipper head coach Paul Hewitt would have expected, the team’s standard G League players stepped up to the challenge, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
The Game’s Turning Point
The game was closely contested, with both teams putting on a show offensively. However, the Wolves’ quick drives to the basket and the Clippers’ lack of transition defense allowed Iowa to take the lead. As the game progressed, the Clippers found themselves in a close one-point game, 50-49 in favor of Iowa, after a late run by the Wolves. Despite this, the Clippers’ Patrick Baldwin Jr. kept his team in the game, scoring 33 points by the end of the third quarter. As Baldwin Jr. noted, "You know we were down some guys (with the two-ways being absent), so we were just trying to think of ways to stretch our lead and keep that two game winning stretch into three."
The Fourth Quarter Collapse
Unfortunately, the Clippers’ momentum didn’t carry over into the fourth quarter, where they essentially ran out of gas. The Wolves outscored them 19-10 in the final frame, leading to the Clippers’ loss. Despite Baldwin Jr.’s career-high 36 points and 7 rebounds, the team couldn’t overcome their exhaustion. As Baldwin Jr. said, "Sometimes games shake out like this where you may have a good night but the team isn’t figuring it out, but I’ve had bad nights too where the team did figure it out, it’s really just a balance."
The New Addition
The Clippers’ newest pickup, Hunter Sallis, played in his second game for the team and showed promise. Sallis, an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest, signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia and played some minutes with them as well as the Delaware Blue Coats. Baldwin Jr. praised Sallis, saying, "(Sallis) touches a lot of points that you want in a basketball player. He can pass, can shoot, extremely athletic and plays well on the ball. I’m excited to see him build (during the course of the season)." With Sallis on board, the Clippers are looking to build on their current roster and make a push for the rest of the season.
Looking Ahead
The Clippers will continue their season with a rivalry game against the South Bay Lakers in El Segundo on January 14. Tip-off will be at 7pm. As Baldwin Jr. noted, "We got a lot of guys who are true pros. They put in the time and the work — we’ve beaten some good teams and I think we’re in a good spot." With their "next guy up" mentality and the addition of Sallis, the Clippers are looking to bounce back from their loss and make a statement in their upcoming game. As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how the Clippers continue to develop and grow as a team.
https://www.thesportingtribune.com/2026/01/10/patrick-baldwin-jr-clippers-career-high-points