LOS ANGELES — Justise Winslow said he hadn’t ever been in that position before, never been the guy needing to be lifted up after missing free throws late in a loss.

“I’ve had teammates that like been in that position and I’ve been very like trying to pick them up, so it was different for me, being on the other end of that,” the Clippers’ 25-year-old forward said Monday before shootaround, when he reflected philosophically on Saturday’s turn of events during the Clippers’ 104-103 loss at Oklahoma City.

He’d been a meaningful contributor for the short-handed Clippers for four consecutive games, averaging six points, shooting 52.6% from the field and registering four rebounds and an assist in that span.

And on Saturday, he started for the first time as a Clipper and played well, finishing with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds. He also held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to two points and one assist in the 3 minutes, 30 seconds he was the primary defender on the Thunder’s star point guard.

But with 7.8 seconds left, Winslow missed two free throws. So instead of the Clippers taking a four-point or even a three-point lead, their advantage remained just two, and that set the stage for Gilgeous-Alexander to launch a game-winning 3-pointer with time expiring.

And though his teammates rallied around him – “There were so many things that put us in that position there at the end, everybody was positive with him,” Luke Kennard said after the game – Winslow said he needed a moment to himself.

“I kinda took two minutes to myself outside the locker room, just walking around,” Winslow said. “In my younger days, I probably woulda been kicking chairs and … slapping walls. But I kinda just needed two minutes just to walk around, talk to myself, just stay composed.

“But I knew in the grand scheme of things, there were a lot of plays in that game that lost us that game. The lens can be narrowed in on my free throws for sure, but I know that there’s other plays that I could’ve done – even myself, not even anyone else – that could’ve helped us win that game, even before. So just understanding, to see the big picture. Understand that we got 82 of these, so 36 hours later, we’re here preparing for another one, so things move quickly.”

And if one wanted to pan out even further, Winslow – a new dad – has a sense of perspective that dwarfs the result of a game.

“I mean, I love the game, and I want to win a championship and I want to make those free throws and all that, but at the end of the day, my responsibility to him is a little more important – a lot more important,” Winslow said, his eyes lighting up with the mention of his 5-week-old son, Nico. “I have my passions and the things I like to do, but that’s a clear-cut No. 1 passion for me now.

“Every day I come home, something new, especially from road trips. He’s the best. He’s so big but tiny at the same time. We got that bond already, speak the same language. It’s just the best.”

Winslow said he has to try not to call home constantly from the road, “’cause I don’t want him just like addicted to the phone, but it is what it is, I’m gonna be on the road a lot.

“But definitely, after the last game and the way it ended for me, I just wanted to get back to him and see his face.”

POPOVICH REFLECTS

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was formally introduced as the next head coach of the U.S. men’s national basketball team on Monday in San Francisco. He’ll take over for San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who led the Americans to a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo – and who was leading the Spurs into a game against the Clippers on Monday at Staples Center.

Before tip-off, Popovich said he was “thrilled” to be handing off the proverbial baton to Kerr and Co.

“Great staff,” Popovich said. “We were all together this last summer. Monty (Williams) had been there before, but during the whole summer, he was supportive and we talked, so having coached him and been with him and been part of our program as a coach. I know him well, but all the other guys. Spo (Erik Spoelstra) and Mark (Few) and Steve were all in the bunker with me and fantastic experience and to have them take over, I think, is wonderful.”

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Popovich – who has coached the Spurs to five NBA championships – also said he considers this summer’s gold-medal run the highlight of his illustrious career.

“I can tell you it was the most satisfying athletic experience of my life … you’re always gonna have that relationship with those guys because it was a trying time,” Popovich said. “We had a lot of obstacles and these guys sacrificed a great deal to be there under those circumstances and … they did everything that we all asked them to do.

“All the coaches that are gonna follow through and be there … worked from morning til night to try to put that thing together. The players knew that and they allowed us to coach them and that was the second most satisfying experience, to have players at that level allow you to maybe adjust something.”