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Clippers vs Kings Preview: Second-to-Last Game
The Clippers are closing in on the end of the regular season, and with how tight the standings are in the Western Conference, every game is imperative.
Game
Information
Where: Golden One Center, Sacramento, California
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected
Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Norm Powell – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Kings: Keon Ellis – Zach LaVine – DeMar DeRozan – Trey Lyles – Domantas Sabonis
Injuries
Clippers: Ivica Zubac Questionable (Ankle), Norm Powell Questionable (Shoulder), Nic Batum Out (Groin), Amir Coffey Out (Hamstring), Patty Mills Out (Illness), Seth Lundy Out (Two-way)
Kings: Malik Monk Out (Calf), Keegan Murray Questionable (Back), Jake Laravia Questionable (Thumb)
The Big
Picture
The Clippers didn’t
play great in their wins over the Spurs and Rockets, but did enough to win
rather comfortably in both contests. Importantly, their best players have
continued to shine, with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac all
turning in stellar performances. Injuries loom, with Nic Batum and Norm Powell
both dealing with minor touch-ups, but the Clippers do not seem worried – so we
shouldn’t be either. If the Clippers continue to play like they have been, and
their key players stay healthy, they are looking every bit like a team that
could win at least one round in the playoffs.
The
Antagonist
Despite another disappointing season, the Kings are just one win or one Mavs loss away from clinching the 9 seed. They remain dangerous on a night-to-night basis due to the sheer offensive firepower on their roster with DeRozan, LaVine, and Sabonis, but injuries and a lack of defense have kept them from being more than just a mediocre team as a whole. After being an excellent home team for a couple of years, they’ve also been rather bad at home, with a 19-20 record in Sacramento. In short, the Kings are not a team to take easily but also one the Clippers should be able to beat if they are playing at their best.
Notes
Attacking the Paint: The Kings’ defense is not very good, and it will be even worse if Murray and Laravia are out. Without stout perimeter defenders, the Clippers should be able to drive to the rim relatively frequently, and should not have much fear of Sabonis when they get there. The key for the Clippers will be to continue attacking and to not settle for jump shots. It’s something they’ve been good about recently, especially with Kawhi Leonard looking more like himself, and tired legs and the end of a long, long season can’t prevent them from doing what’s made them so successful the past month. I’d like to see the continued ball movement and activity on defense that helped put the Rockets away in the second half on Wednesday in this one.
Standings Watch: There’s a lot going on in the NBA, as always, but Clippers’ fans should be keeping their eyes on three games: Grizzlies-Nuggets, Warriors-Blazers, and Rockets-Lakers. The Grizz and Nuggets game is really a win-win for the Clippers, but it’s probably better if Memphis wins. Clippers’ fans should unabashedly root for the Blazers and Rockets to take out their Pacific Division rivals, helping keep the Clippers above the play-in and in the hunt for the 3 seed respectively.