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Clippers vs Sixers Preview: Hello Darkness My Old Friend
The Clippers are playing on the second night of a back-to-back on the road against a good team and without several key players. Sounds all too familiar to Clippers fans, doesn’t it.
Game Information
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: 4:00 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kobe Sanders – John Collins – Ivica Zubac
Sixers: Tyrese Maxey – VJ Edgecombe – Trendon Watford – Paul George – Andre Drummond
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Ankle), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Jordan Miller Doubtful (Hamstring)
Sixers: Joel Embiid Out (Knee), Kelly Oubre Jr. Out (Knee), Adem Bona Out (Ankle), Paul George Questionable (Knee)
Notes
Injury Questions: Both Derrick Jones Jr. and Jordan Miller got injured against the Celtics, but we don’t know the extent of either injury. DJJ was on crutches and his knee injury looked quite severe, so I’m comfortable ruling him out of this one even without knowing what the injury is, exactly. Miller reaggravated a hamstring injury, and as hamstrings are very tricky, it would be pretty shocking if he played this one either. How long either guy will be out for is unknown right now, but if I had to guess for DJJ it would be a matter of months and for Miller a matter of weeks. Fingers crossed that the injuries aren’t as bad as they seem.
Who Steps Up: Kobe Sanders has played a lot of minutes the past couple games, and I have him penciled into the starting unit with DJJ and likely Miller out, though it could also be Bogdan Bogdanovic. With so many perimeter players out, I think Cam Christie and/or Kobe Brown minutes could happen – and it is even possible Chris Paul gets dusted off again. If the Clippers are able to stay afloat until Kawhi returns, they will need real, helpful minutes from multiple youngsters. Hopefully it happens, but if not, at least they will be getting useful developmental minutes.
PG’s Season Debut: Paul George has not played yet this season, but has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game. If he does play, he will not find very many recognizable faces on the Clippers’ roster: only Ivica Zubac, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Kobe Brown, and Jordan Miller remain from even the 2024 Clippers’ team that PG was on before he left for Philly. I’d imagine if PG does play that he will have a pretty strict minutes restriction, but we will see.
Clippers vs Sixers Preview: Hello Darkness My Old Friend
Robert Flom