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“I swear I never know certain things even exist till rich people are in a jam. Private firefighters?? That’s a real thing??” asked another.

“We have a shortage of public defenders, so that’s why we’re in a jam.”

“And the main thing is just not getting yourself boxed in, especially in this league. In hitter’s counts, hitters are always going to perform better. But I have to really find a way to get myself out, if I get myself in a jam with guys on and I’m behind in the count, it’s being able to get out of that. I think I have the weapons to do that now.”

Though coach Tyronn Lue has said he wanted to avoid lineups without a center whenever possible, he has turned to them in a jam — and the Clippers found themselves in one during the fourth quarter when their surge stalled.

He said he wouldn’t support a stopgap just because Mr. Johnson is in a jam.