Clippers' Darius Garland Avoids Media After Costly Loss to Spurs

Garland's poor shooting and turnovers contributed to the Clippers' slide in the standings.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:53pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in motion, with the player's body and the ball broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team colors of the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.Garland's struggles and avoidance of the media reflect the Clippers' need for better leadership as they fight for playoff positioning.New Orleans Today

Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland has struggled mightily in the team's last two games, shooting just 12-of-34 from the field with 6 turnovers. After the Clippers' 118-99 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Garland left the locker room before it was opened to the media, marking the second straight game he has avoided speaking to reporters following a poor performance.

Why it matters

The Clippers are fighting for seeding in the NBA Play-In tournament, and Garland's recent struggles have contributed to their slide down to the 9th seed. His unwillingness to address the media after these losses raises questions about his accountability and leadership during a crucial stretch of the season.

The details

In the loss to the Spurs, Garland scored 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting. In the previous game against the Portland Trail Blazers, he had 20 points but shot just 7-of-17 from the field. After both games, Garland left the locker room before it was opened to the media, according to reports.

  • The Clippers lost to the Spurs on April 3, 2026.
  • Prior to the Spurs game, the Clippers lost to the Trail Blazers.

The players

Darius Garland

The Los Angeles Clippers' starting point guard, who has struggled with his shooting and turnovers in the team's last two games.

Los Angeles Clippers

An NBA team currently fighting for seeding in the Play-In tournament.

San Antonio Spurs

The opponent the Clippers lost to, contributing to their slide in the standings.

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What they’re saying

“'Darius Garland left before the locker room was open to media today, making it a second straight game he left without speaking. Garland shot 12-of-34 in the last 2 games with 6 turnovers in back to back Clippers losses.'”

— Tomer Azarly, Clutch Points Reporter

What’s next

The Clippers have two winnable games coming up against the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, followed by a tougher matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They then face the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors, two other teams fighting for Play-In positioning.

The takeaway

Darius Garland's recent struggles and unwillingness to address the media highlight the Clippers' need for better leadership and accountability from their star player as they fight to secure a favorable seed in the NBA Play-In tournament.