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Clippers vs. Heat Game Preview
The Clippers will try to start off 2024 on a good note against the Heat and reap the benefits of a roster that is approaching full health.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – Amir Coffey – Ivica Zubac
Heat: RJ Hampton – Tyler Herro – Jaime Jaquez Jr. – Nikola Jovic – Bam Adebayo
Injury Report
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard questionable (hip), Mason Plumlee questionable (MCL)
Heat: Jimmy Butler out (knee), Caleb Martin doubtful (ankle), Haywood Highsmith doubtful (jaw), Kyle Lowry questionable (head), Josh Richardson questionable (back), Cole Swider questionable (G League), Orlando Robinson questionable (G League)
The Big Picture
The LA Clippers ring in the New Year with the last game of a crucial home-stand. They’re currently on a two-game win streak that included a sluggish victory over the struggling Charlotte Hornets and a more impressive win against the Memphis Grizzlies.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook showed their worth against the Grizzlies by combining for 30 points, ten rebounds and 19 assists. Part of the reason why these two were acquired was so that there is not a huge drop-off if and when either of the Clippers main stars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George miss time with injury.
That’s exactly what’s happened recently with Leonard being sidelined for the past four games with a hip injury. He originally suffered the injury back on Dec. 8 against the Utah Jazz and had been able to play through it before re-aggravating it against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 20.
While Clippers fans have understandably been on edge lately regarding Leonard initial injury status and subsequent updates, he participated in practice on Sunday and it appears as if his return is on the horizon even if it might not be against the Heat.
The Antagonist
The Miami Heat come to town a bit banged up. They have a lengthy injury list and will be without star wing Jimmy Butler, who suffered a foot injury the game prior against the Jazz.
In any case, an Erik Spolestra team plays hard and will play hard regardless of who is or isn’t in the lineup. With Butler sidelined, that likely means rookie standout and LA native Jaime Jaquez will get the start at small forward.
Jaquez has quietly put his name in the Rookie of the Year chatter even if most people believe it’s a two-player race between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. He dropped 31 points and ten rebounds on national TV on Christmas Day and it would be fitting for him to have a big game in front of his home crowd – on Mexican Heritage Night no less.
The Clippers cannot come out with any lingering New Year’s Eve effects, as this team is fully capable of not only being competitive, but possibly stealing a win regardless of who plays or not.
Notes
Not only is Kawhi Leonard seemingly close to a return, but so is Mason Plumlee. Plumlee has been out since Nov. 6 when he suffered a MCL sprain, but he participated in full practice on Saturday for the first time since his injury. He was officially upgraded to questionable for the Heat game.
His return presents a bit of a conundrum with Daniel Theis having settled in to the role of backup center in Plumlee’s absence. Theis has been solid, maybe better than Clippers fans expected with his tough play and ability to space the floor at times. He’s also developed a strong chemistry with Russell Westbrook in the second unit.
Both Plumlee and Theis bring different, but valuable skill-sets to the team. It will be interesting to see how the Clippers sort out this roster question. But it’s not a bad problem to have considering it wasn’t too long ago that the Clippers were getting killed on the court due to the lack of a true backup center.