2018–19 Los Angeles Clippers season
The 2018–19 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 49th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 41st season in Southern California, and their 35th season in Los Angeles.
| 2018–19 Los Angeles Clippers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Doc Rivers |
| General manager | Michael Winger |
| Owners | Steve Ballmer |
| Arena | Staples Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 48–34 (.585) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Pacific) Conference: 8th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | First Round (lost to Warriors 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket KCOP-TV |
| Radio | KLAC |
For the first time since the 2014–15 season, Austin Rivers was not on the roster following a trade to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Marcin Gortat, ending the father-son duo with his father, Doc Rivers. Additionally, longtime center DeAndre Jordan opted out of his contract with the Clippers, and became a free agent. On July 6, 2018, he signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
In their first full season without stars Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers still produced a winning season by March 19, and clinched a playoff berth on March 26, 2019, following a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the playoffs, the Clippers faced the defending two-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the first round, losing in six games. The two teams previously met in the 2014 playoffs, in which the Clippers won in seven games amidst a scandal surrounding former owner Donald Sterling. They were the first team since the 2016 playoffs to beat the Warriors twice on the road.
In game 2 of the first round, the Clippers set an NBA record for the largest comeback in playoff history, overcoming a 31-point deficit in the third quarter, en route to defeating the Warriors 135–131 to tie the series 1–1.