The Los Angeles Clippers will host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night as the team hopes to build off its first win of the season. Continue reading for our Clippers-Cavaliers preview.
Game Information
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
When: 7:30 p.m. PT
How to Tune in: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
L.A. Clippers: Eric Bledsoe – Reggie Jackson – Paul George – Nicolas Batum – Ivica Zubac
Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland – Collin Sexton – Lauri Markkanen – Evan Mobley – Jarrett Allen
Injury Report
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Marcus Morris Out (Knee), Serge Ibaka Out (Back), Jason Preston Out (Foot), Keon Johnson Questionable (Illness)
Cavs: Isaac Okoro Doubtful (Hamstring)
The Big Picture
On Monday night, the Clippers became one of the few remaining winless NBA teams to record a victory when they dismantled the Portland Trail Blazers 116-86. The win was a combination of enhanced activity and energy on defense, spearheaded by Nico Batum on the opening possessions of the game, and a feeble effort from the Blazers, who turned the ball over 30 times. Nevertheless, the result was what the Clippers needed after an 0-2 start, and many of the happenings from Monday night should be transferable to Wednesday night’s matchup with Cleveland. Doing so would put the Clips back up to .500.
The Antagonist
The Cavaliers will strut into Staples Center with a mountain of confidence, having won two games in a row, including a Monday night win at Denver. The usually pedestrian Cavs have overachieved thus far by attacking the inside. Cleveland’s 54.0 PITP per game ranks fourth in the league, in large part due to Jarrett Allen’s 31/37 shooting start on the season.
Losers of the last seven LAC-CLE matchups, Cleveland hasn’t beat the Clippers since the 2017-18 season when LeBron James was still a member of the organization. The most two most recent outings last season were significant for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Paul George dissected the Cleveland defense in the first game, but it would be his last played game for a while due to bone edema in his foot he’d battle for parts of the season. Second, the first game provoked panic within the Clippers community regarding how the Cavs’ guards had some moments against the Clippers’ drop coverage. Such panic has since vanished.
Clippers vs. Cavaliers Game Notes
- Containing the Dribble: As alluded to earlier, the Cavs are one of the top paint-scoring teams in the league. A lot of the production comes from drives to rim and dishes to Allen for dunks. The Clippers will need to do a good job of containing Garland and Rubio.
- Aggressive Paul George: The Cavs start three big men (Mobley, Allen, and Markkanen), and one of those three is going to be guarding PG. It probably won’t be Allen, which means George will have either of Markkanen and Mobley. One is a rookie, and the other is slow-footed. Wednesday night should be a great opportunity for PG to get the guys off to a fast start.
That about does it for this preview of the Clippers game against the Cavaliers. Leave your comments below!