Clippers 110, Wizards 106
Q. What will be your biggest takeaway from the way this game ended?
ALEX SARR: I think we can learn stuff from late games. We've already been through a little bit of them this season, but there's definitely some more learning we can do in how we want to finish out games. I thought we did a good job for the most part except on that free throw box-on, but we can learn from it.
Q. You had a strong game, a lot start against two really good defensive big men. How have you been able to achieve the consistency you've had this season?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I think just getting going in the paint first, getting easy looks, and then once I feel like I'm confident in a game, stepping out. But yeah, I would say starting in the paint.
Q. 20 free throws tonight for James Harden. I think Wizards had 22 as a team. How hard is it to defend a guy who's been in the league for this line that's so good at getting to the line?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, he's tough. He only had like nine in the first quarter, so that's something we wanted to be mindful of, but we didn't do a great job keeping him off the line. When somebody shoots 20 free throws, it's tough to stop.
Q. Nicolas Batum was in town tonight. Have you had any interactions with him, obviously being a French player?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, just seeing him around, I think, this summer doing national team stuff. It's always good playing against him. He's a French great, has been doing it for a very long time, so it's good seeing how he carries himself and his professionalism.
Q. Has he given you any advice about how to carry yourself in this league?
ALEX SARR: Not really. We didn't even have time. We just talked postgame on the court. We didn't really have time.
Q. Alex, do you feel like you guys are starting to figure out on offense without CJ on the team anymore?
ALEX SARR: Yeah. Obviously when some players leave, it takes a little bit of time to readjust, but I feel like it's a next-man-up mentality. Whoever has got to play is doing what they've got to do, and I feel like we're finding that chemistry.
Q. With Kyshawn, it seems like he's kind of contributing in every part of the game. What kind of growth have you seen from him this season?
ALEX SARR: I would say just him being more aggressive, more assertive with what he does. He facilitates a lot for us, gets in the paint, kicks it out, hits his shots, gets fouled, gets to the line. He does a lot of stuff for us.
Q. What happened on the free throw box-out toward the end?
ALEX SARR: I didn't exactly see. I think he missed, and I don't know if he got tipped or if he just grabbed it, but James got the rebound back, and then he got fouled again.
Q. How have Kyshawn and Bub improved as closers in these close games?
ALEX SARR: I feel like just getting more reps at it. They got that amount of reps in the first part of the season in close games. They were getting the ball, putting the ball in their hands and making decisions, so they're definitely getting better at it.
Q. The last game in LA, you deal with the ejection, you deal with the aftermath of that. Tonight you have a fantastic bounce back. What was the mindset coming into this, and what lesson did you learn from that situation heading into tonight's game and really throughout the rest of the road trip?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I would say the lessons were just not get ejected, not bounce the ball and get techs. But it was definitely a better ending for me than last game getting to finish the game. So yeah, I would say that was my main focus, finishing the games.
Q. I know coming into the season, certain matchups you had really great outputs. You still showed well but it looked different. Do you feel this season the more and more you're seeing different big men that you're bringing the consistency that you want to bring on a nightly basis and it's allowing you to continue with that rhythm that you have?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, for sure. I feel like I'm doing better against most teams than I did last year, so I feel like, yeah, it's just kind of me being more consistent, and I feel like I can still be more consistent, but yeah, it's just me having more experience, I guess.
Q. Two years ago at the FIBA under-19 World Cup, you matched up with a big guy from China, Yang Hansen. This year he was drafted by the Blazers and you guys will face him again on January 27. My question is do you remember him, and what kind of impression did he leave on you?
ALEX SARR: Yeah, I definitely remember. He was very good, good hands. He had a good low-post game. Yeah, it was a fun game.
Q. If you could give him some advice about the pace and the physicality in the league, what would you tell him?
ALEX SARR: I would say just doing whatever the coaching staff tells you to do. That's what gets you on the court, and once you do that, you can round out your game pretty well.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports