The Clippers head up I-94 to Milwaukee to face the Bucks, with both teams on a 24-hour turnaround from overtime games. With the Clippers’ place in the standings more secure than their hosts’, to what extent will they choose rest over a win? Read on for our full game preview:
Game Information
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
When: 5:00 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570 KLAC
Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson — Paul George — Nicolas Batum — Marcus Morris Sr. — Ivica Zubac
Bucks: Jrue Holiday — Wes Matthews — Khris Middleton — Giannis Antetokounmpo — Brook Lopez
Injuries
Clippers: OUT — Kawhi Leonard (knee); OUT — Norman Powell (foot); OUT — Jason Preston (foot); OUT — Jay Scrubb (toe)
Bucks: OUT — DeAndre’ Bembry (knee)
The Big Picture
. . . is the play-in round, which is now a near certainty.
The Clippers are firmly entrenched in the 8th seed, socially distanced from the Timberwolves above them (5.5 games) and Pelicans below (4 games). Having basically settled that, Tyronn Lue and staff can focus on getting the team in good health and rhythm.
The first part is of the plan is coming together. Paul George played 32 minutes last night before sitting out the extra period. Marcus Morris Sr. was questionable pre-game but told Law Murray post-game that he’s good to go against Milwaukee. As of the time of this writing, there was no word on personnel status for tonight’s tilt, with the team possibly taking stock during their bus ride.
The second part, then, becomes the interesting half. George looks plug-and-play, having resumed his devastating play at both ends. Lue has opted for size in the starting five, but we know the team has a small-ball card conveniently at hand. Their opponent is comfortable playing both styles. Should be a good one then.
The Antagonist
. . . is in a heated race.
The East has all the intrigue. The top four seeds are squished together within a 2.5-game spread. The Bucks toppled the Nets last night to pull within a half-game of the top-seeded Heat. (The Bucks will also have to travel farther than the Clippers overnight. Ha ha.)
Which seed do the Bucks want, though? The bottom of the Eastern standings has a poison pill: namely, the Nets, who pushed the defending champs to overtime last night and came within a toe of erasing them from the last postseason. The other first-round options look less spiny. A Cleveland here, a Charlotte there. OK, maybe that Trae Young guy isn’t a pushover. But we know all about maneuvering for playoff position, don’t we?
Now healthy themselves, the Bucks can start rolling into their title defense. And Giannis Antetokounmpo can try to make a late push for his third MVP award in four years. Let’s hope tonight isn’t his exclamation point.
Game Thread
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