The Clippers are coming off one of their best wins in a while, and will hope to keep that momentum going against the bottom-dwelling Hornets.
Game Information
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
When: 3:00 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570
Tickets: For great deals on Clippers tickets, check out Barry’s Tickets!
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Jams Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Hornets: Vasilije Micic – Tre Mann – Miles Bridges – Brandon Miller – Nick Richards
Injuries
Clippers: None
Hornets: LaMelo Ball Out (Ankle), Mark Williams Out (Back), Aleksej Pokuevski Questionable (Illness)
The Big Picture
The Clippers have won two games in a row, and while they haven’t been great in either game, they have shown a level of fight and defense they haven’t shown much of in months. The ship has not been righted, or close to it, but it might have temporarily stopped sinking, which is still a step in the right direction. If the Clippers can just maintain this level of play and energy, they should be able to win a decent chunk of their final games and stay out of the play-in. Next up: getting their offense moving from just ok to the kind of flow, movement, and deadliness it was for much of the first 2/3 of the season.
The Antagonist
The Hornets are a putrid 18-55, having traded away or let walk multiple key veterans over the past 12 months including Terry Rozier, Kelly Oubre, PJ Washington, and Gordon Hayward. Things have not been helped by star guard LaMelo Ball playing just 22 games this year. The only real bright spot has been prized rookie Brandon Miller, who has had a very strong season shooting the ball and demonstrated flashes of shooting and defense as well. The Hornets now have a strong wing to pair with Ball – if LaMelo is ever able to stay healthy – but the rest of the roster remains quite barren. There is talent, just like there is on every NBA team in 2024, but the Hornets are clearly one of the worst teams in the league and are just waiting for this season to end.
Notes
Get the Win: This is probably the easiest game left on the Clippers’ calendar, along with their two games against the Jazz. It would be great if they played well and were able to get their stars rest in the second half. That’s certainly ideal. But wins are wins, and with the Mavs closing fast and the Pelicans still lurking, every victory is important. The Clippers should be able to handle the Hornets with ease, so hopefully they don’t come out thinking the Hornets will just hand them the game. A competent, focused effort should get a win, but the Clippers need to put in that base level of work.
Disclaimer: 213Hoops may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this post.
