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Clippers vs. Thunder Game Preview: Another Tough One
The Clippers will hope to recover from their loss to the West-leading Wolves against the second-best team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: TNT
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Daniel Theis
Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Josh Giddey – Lu Dort – Jalen Williams – Chet Holmgren
Injury Report
Clippers: Ivica Zubac out (calf), Moussa Diabate out (hip).
Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander questionable (knee).
The Big Picture
The LA Clippers return home from a mini-road trip having gone 1-1. They now have a three-game home stand before embarking on one of the longest road trips of the season that will carry over into February.
With the Clippers loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, some of those same issues figure to be present against the Thunder.
No Ivica Zubac played a major factor in the loss. The Clippers offense was more iso-dependent than usual without his two-man game with James Harden and off ball mobility.
The Clippers will once again have to figure out how to navigate the game without their starting center, as Zubac has been ruled out against the Thunder.
They’re also going to need a little more out of the non-Kawhi starters. A good start is imperative.
The Antagonist
The Oklahoma City Thunder come into the game on the second night of a back to back having lost to the LA Lakers on Monday.
This is a young team with a lot of energy and athleticism, so don’t expect the back to back to faze them much, if at all. This team is going to come out ready to play and ready to wash away the taste of the Lakers loss.
One thing to monitor though is the status of Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP candidate was questionable heading into the Laker game with a knee issue. Although he ultimately was cleared to play, he did not look quite like his usual self. He’s considered questionable again for this game.
Another thing the Clippers could have going for them is the Thunder frontline. While Chet Holmgren is a rising star himself, they don’t have the size Minnesota does that magnified the absence of Zubac even more.
This is a big game in standings as the Clippers are only two games back of the Thunder in the loss column. With the Thunder losing to the Lakers, this is a major opportunity to gain some ground.
Clippers vs. Thunder Game Preview: Another Tough One
David Yapkowitz