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Clippers vs. Kings Game Preview: Home Again
The Clippers return home to face off against their division rival, the Sacramento Kings.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 6:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal, ESPN
Tickets: For great deals on Clippers tickets, check out Barry’s Tickets!
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Kings: De’Aaron Fox – Kevin Huerter – Harrison Barnes – Keegan Murray – Domantas Sabonis
Injury Report
Clippers: Norman Powell questionable (ankle)
Kings: Sasha Vezenkov out (ankle), Alex Len (questionable) illness
The Big Picture
The LA Clippers return home from a mini-road trip following the All-Star break. Prior to the break, the Clippers looked like a team that needed extended rest. Now that the regular season has resumed, they didn’t look all that great against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Clippers completely fell apart in the second half against the Thunder and somewhat sluggishly held off the Grizzlies. With an increasingly tight race in the Western Conference for a top four seed, this isn’t the time for the Clippers to hit a slump.
Part of the issue with the Clippers has been getting consistent bench production as well as a set bench rotation. Tyronn Lue is well-known for his tinkering and experimenting with lineups, but the Clippers have been hurt with some of these bench lineups.
One thing to look for is the final injury status for Norman Powell. Powell sat out against the Grizzlies and is questionable against the Kings due to an ankle injury. Powell has been such an important player off the bench for the Clippers and they need him in the lineup as soon as possible.
The Antagonist
The Sacramento Kings come to town in a different situation from last season. It was almost one year ago to the day when the Clippers and Kings put up the highest regular season scoring game in NBA history. The Kings were consistently a top three team in the West and caught the league by surprise.
This season, the Kings are a little bit lower in the standings. They’re only 5-5 in their last ten games and battling to get out of a play-in spot. De’Aaron Fox has picked up his play as of late and has been a thorn in the Clippers side.
The Clippers have won the first two games against the Kings this season in dominating fashion. Nevertheless, this is still a dangerous team, one not to take likely.
One thing the Clippers have working in their favor is at least this isn’t a Sunday matinee game. All jokes aside though, the Clippers need to get a win to keep pace in the West standings if the top seed is truly their goal.
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