The Clippers can lock up the 4-seed with a win against the tanking Jazz. This is about as must-win as it gets.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal
Tickets: For great deals on Clippers tickets, check out Barry’s Tickets!
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Russell Westbrook – Norman Powell – Terance Mann – Paul George – Ivica Zubac
Jazz: Keyonte George – Johnny Juzang – Luka Samanic – Taylor Hendricks – Omer Yurtseven
Injury Report
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard out (knee), James Harden questionable (foot), Joshua Primo out (ankle).
Jazz: Collin Sexton day to day (illness), Walker Kessler questionable (nose), John Collins questionable (back), Jordan Clarkson questionable (back), Kris Dunn questionable (foot), Lauri Markkanen questionable (shoulder).
The Big Picture
The LA Clippers come into Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz with most of their key guys back in the lineup. After sitting out during Wednesday’s back to back against the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers will have Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Ivica Zubac, and Norman Powell available.
Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out though and James Harden remains questionable. It’s a big game in that a Clippers win clinches the fourth seed in the Western Conference and homecourt advantage through the first round of the playoffs.
Getting a win would essentially make Sunday’s matinee game against the Houston Rockets unimportant. It would be an opportunity to get guys more rest heading into the postseason.
The Antagonist
The Jazz come to town playing for lottery balls at this point. They held out their key guys during Thursday’s game against the Rockets. There’s no official word as to whether or not any of them will be available for the second end of a back to back, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they sat out again.
The Jazz are using this late season stretch to get a good look at several young, talented players they have on their roster. As the Clippers B-team showed against the Suns’ Big 3 on Wednesday, these guys are NBA players and anything can happen on any given night.
But this is a game the Clippers need to have standings-wise, so expect a sense of urgency from the jump.
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