The regular season is over in everything but name for the Los Angeles Clippers. One slip-up has pushed them to the brink of a play-in fight, and while Kawhi Leonard is preaching calm, the uneven form of a key teammate is quietly becoming a growing concern at the worst possible moment.

After a costly loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Clippers are suddenly staring at a make-or-break finish. Friday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers isn’t just another game — it’s a chance to lock in the eighth seed and give themselves a lifeline in the Play-In Tournament. It’s a must-win, plain and simple.

However, Leonard isn’t buying into the idea that urgency needs to be vocalized. “We just play like any other game. Got to do the same thing we do every night. Make sure we don’t make mistakes, execute, rebound, play with energy, bring aggressiveness. Same thing.”

The typically reserved superstar kept things grounded when addressing the media, delivering a message rooted in routine rather than rhetoric.

The Clippers currently sit at 41-39, holding the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, just one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers (40-40). A victory would solidify their position and strengthen their tiebreaker advantage heading into the final games.

Keeping it simple has always worked for Kawhi Leonard. They tried to do the same tonight, but ultimately couldn’t match the Thunder’s talent. The Clippers were without starting point guard Darius Garland. Despite being undermanned, the Clippers made 14 threes on 43.8%. They managed to perform better than the Thunder from beyond the arc.

However, defensively, they couldn’t play with aggression. The Thunder shot close to 58% from the field. Chet Holmgren was the difference maker. The talented big man added 30 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. His complete performance led the way for another dominant Thunder win.

The Los Angeles Clippers still put up a valiant effort. They hold a 2-1 lead in the season series against Portland. Currently, this gives them the edge in any potential tie-breaker for the eighth seed, as NBA tiebreakers prioritize head-to-head record when teams are otherwise even. But a win is still necessary to secure the tie-breaker.

Bennedict Mathurin opens up about his struggles

The Clippers’ offense, aside from their distance shooting, struggled against OKC. That included another silent night for Bennedict Mathurin. The former Pacers forward scored 10 points, making three of his eight shots. This was the third consecutive game Mathurin scored under 12 points.

Mathurin was acquired by the Clippers from the Indiana Pacers in a mid-season trade (centered around sending center Ivica Zubac to Indiana) shortly before the All-Star break. Since joining Los Angeles as a bench spark, the former lottery pick has provided consistent scoring off the bench in most games, including 16 outings with 15+ points, while adapting to a non-starting role.

He didn’t dodge away from his difficulties. “Trying to figure it out,” he told reporters after the game. The issue isn’t with the way the Thunder guarded him. Benedict Mathurin’s efficiency is off. The Clippers star is shooting 6-20 over his last three games.

That’s a major concern, given the Play-In Tournament is only days away. But Mathurin really just needs some rhythm. While his recent slump is concerning, his overall contributions since the trade have helped stabilize the second unit.

Mathurin is confident he will find a way past his inefficiency.

The Clippers will hope that he snaps his cold streak against Portland. It’s not a stretch to say this could be the most important game of the season. The Clippers have been amazing since starting the season 6-21.

But the team is relatively new and still learning its way. Having a second chance by securing the eighth seed could be vital.

Do you think Kawhi Leonard and Co. can do it? Let us know your views in the comments below.