Clippers’ defense not enough against Nuggets as skid continues

DENVER — Tyronn Lue’s parting words before the Clippers left Monday for Colorado implored the team not to worry about the nine remaining games, but rather focus on the grit they’d played with during their previous 73, the effort that had kept their postseason hopes alive despite largely playing without their two best players.

The Clippers did not “throw it away” Tuesday in Denver, as their coach had cautioned against. But they remained a few defensive stops away