The Clippers will try to push their winning streak to three games against an injury riddled Grizzlies squad.
Game Information
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
When: 5:00 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Paul George – Terance Mann – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Grizzlies: Jacob Gilyard – Luke Kennard – Desmond Bane – Vince Williams Jr. – Jaren Jackson Jr.
Injuries
Clippers: Moussa Diabate Out (Hand)
Grizzlies: Ja Morant Out (Shoulder), Marcus Smart Out (Finger), Steven Adams Out (Knee), Brandon Clarke Out (Achilles), Santi Aldama Out (Knee), Derrick Rose Out (Thigh)
The Big Picture
The Clippers have won two games in a row and are looking to start stringing together another long winning streak. Their stretch of strong play is now long enough to be legitimate – this team is very, very good as long as they can stay healthy. Despite their winning ways, they’re still just 4th in the West, but have pulled to within two games of the top-seeded Timberwolves. Another winning streak and some timely losses by their top-of-the-West competitors and the Clips could be in the top two. They’ve come a long way from their 3-7 start and miserable early season losses.
The Antagonist
The Grizzlies have somehow won three games in a row, but received twin hammer blows this week with the news that Ja Morant would miss the rest of the season and Marcus Smart will be out for six weeks. Already down a number of key players, these updates essentially mean the Grizzlies’ season is over. They still have Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and a handful of role players, but they are going to be extremely bad until Smart returns at the very least.
Notes
Don’t Let Up: The Clippers already lost to a Ja Morant-less Grizzlies team earlier this season. While that team did have Smart (who made a couple huge game-winning plays down the stretch), the Clippers still should have won that game and didn’t. They can’t let the Grizzlies have hope, and should try to come out of the gates roaring hot to put them away early. The Grizzlies simply don’t have the firepower to come back from a large deficit, so if the Clippers can get a lead of 15 or so points in the first half, I’d feel confident in their ability to win. They need to win regardless, but ending this game early would make it much more comfortable.
Rotation Check-Up: After a few games where Ty Lue tried to play Hardn and Russ together more, he’s once again split them up the past couple games by bringing in Russ for Harden instead of for Terance Mann. While I get why the Clippers want to try to get Russ and Harden – and Russ alongside the Big 3 in general – to work, I think keeping them apart as much as possible makes sense. That said, if the Clippers do get up an early lead and have the game fairly well in hand, I’d be interested in seeing Ty toggle the lineups a bit. Maybe he even gives Mason Plumlee more of a shot in the rotation to see how he fits next to the new, Harden-driven Clippers.