The LA Clippers returned home this week from their Grammy road trip and next up in this homestand is the Milwaukee Bucks.

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: Terance Mann – Paul George – Nicolas Batum – Marcus Morris Sr. – Ivica Zubac

Bucks: Jrue Holiday – Grayson Allen – Pat Connaughton – Giannis Antetokounmpo – Brook Lopez

Injury Report


Clippers: Kawhi Leonard out (injury management), Eric Gordon out (trade pending), Mason Plumlee out (trade pending), Bones Hyland out (trade pending).

Bucks: Jae Crowder out (trade pending), Bobby Portis out (knee), Joe Ingles questionable (load management).

The Big Picture

The LA Clippers are going to be coming off a whirlwind of a trade deadline in which fan favorites Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard were shipped out to the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies respectively. Although the moves made sense from a basketball perspective, losing those two, especially Jackson, is sure to evoke some sentimental feelings from the fanbase.

At the end of the day though, the moves were necessary and the players acquired should help the team in the immediate future. The trade is still pending though, and so the new additions in Eric Gordon, Mason Plumlee, and Bones Hyland will not make their debut against the Bucks.

That leaves the Clippers rotation a little short-handed, especially with Kawhi Leonard on the injury report with injury management. The Clippers for the most part have been playing better since that losing streak they were mired in when they left for their road trip.

There are still some issues that are present, most notably the Clippers tendency to go cold at inopportune times and stagnant offense. In the Clippers last game against the Bucks on the road trip, they had a double-digit lead, but allowed the Bucks to get back into the game and ultimately win behind poor Clipper ball movement and bad shot selection.

But the Clippers lack of a major move at the trade deadline signals either one of two things. Either team brass is confident enough in this group that they feel like when healthy they can compete against anyone in the West, or that a major deal simply was not there for the taking.

If reports are to be believed, it probably leans towards the former, as reports have suggested that Fred VanVleet could have been had from the Toronto Raptors, but the Clippers ultimately balked at the Raptors asking price which would have included Terance Mann and some combination of picks.

The mantra of this team all season has been if healthy, they can play with anyone. A couple of minor tweaks like they made at the deadline was all that was necessary in their eyes. That may very well be true, but a healthy roster has to have some consistency and with the second half of the season fully underway, the Clippers need to start stringing together some wins.

The Antagonist

The Bucks come to town at 38-17 with the second best record in the Eastern Conference standings and having just beat the Los Angeles Lakers on the first night of a back-to-back. It’s possible that the Clippers do not face the Bucks at full strength, as they too have been resting players due to injury management on back to backs.

If that’s the case, then it might be possible for them to squeak out a win despite being short-handed themselves. The Bucks at full strength are one of the elite teams in the league, and even a fully healthy Clippers team would have issues with them.

The Bucks are one of the top defensive teams in the league. They are seventh in opponents points per game at 111.8 and third in defensive rating at 110.7. They are powered by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is having an MVP-caliber season. They are currently on a nine game win streak.

If they do sit players due to injury management and being on the second game of a back-to-back, Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the likely candidates. The Bucks made a splash at the trade deadline as well bringing Jae Crowder to help solidify their wing rotation. He too will be out though as the trade is still pending.

David Yapkowitz

David Yapkowitz

David is in his sixth season as credentialed media at Los Angeles Clippers games and second season covering the team for 213 Hoops. He also covers the game at the college and high school levels. When his professional basketball dreams did not materialize, he turned to the next best thing, writing about it.

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