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Clippers vs. Grizzlies Game Preview
The Clippers will try to get another win streak going in a home game against a Grizzlies team that is no longer a pushover.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal, NBA TV
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – Amir Coffey – Ivica Zubac
Grizzlies: Marcus Smart – Desmond Bane – Vince Williams Jr. – Jaren Jackson Jr. – Bismack Biyombo
Injury Report
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard questionable (hip), Mason Plumlee out (MCL), Moussa Diabate out (G League assignment).
Grizzlies: Ja Morant questionable (illness), Santi Aldama questionable (illness), Steven Adams out (knee), Brandon Clarke out (Achilles), GG Jackson out (G League Assignment), Luke Kennard out (knee), Jake LaRavia out (G League Assignment), Derrick Rose out (hamstring).
The Big Picture
The Los Angeles Clippers continue their home-stand to end the year following a sluggish win against the Charlotte Hornets. The Clippers pretty much sleepwalked through the entire game, giving enough effort to close it out in the fourth quarter.
This team is just a drastically different team without Kawhi Leonard. Leonard missed his third straight game with a hip injury he sustained back during the Clippers win against the Dallas Mavericks last week.
The latest update from Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was that Leonard is improving and is considered day-to-day. In the meantime, the Clippers need to find a way to get wins with the prospect of Leonard potentially missing extended time.
This is one of the major reasons why the Clippers went and got James Harden. Harden provides the team with another shot creator and ball-handler. He was brilliant down the stretch against the Hornets. For however long Leonard is out, he’ll need to continue to be aggressive.
With all the talk of how the Harden and Russell Westbrook pairing doesn’t work, the duo was exceptionally good against the Hornets. The Clippers needed all the energy they got from Westbrook. This is also why Westbrook was brought in. These two guys can help as much as they can to make up the difference when one of the other stars is out.
The Antagonist
The Memphis Grizzlies come to town riding high, having won four of their last five games. They had won four straight since Ja Morant made his return to the lineup before losing Thursday to the Denver Nuggets with Morant sidelined due to illness.
It’s not clear whether or nor Morant will play against the Clippers on a quick turnaround, but the Clippers need to prepare as if he will. Just like the Clippers with Leonard, the Grizzlies are just a vastly superior team with Morant. Even with all the other injuries Memphis has, Morant’s presence makes them that much better.
Last season, the Clippers actually beat the Grizzlies on the road without both Leonard and Paul George in what was probably Russell Westbrook’s best game of the 2022-23 season. He went toe to toe with Morant and dragged the team on his back to victory.
Westbrook gets up for big games and with the prospect of no Leonard and Morant possibly back in the lineup, this could be his turn to shine again on both ends of the court.