The Clippers play their second game of the 2022 NBA preseason against the Sacramento Kings. Read on for a full preview of the Clippers’ preseason game against the Kings below.
Game Information
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports West
Projected Starting Lineups
Kings: De’Aaron Fox – Tyrese Haliburton – Harrison Barnes – Marvin Bagley – Richaun Holmes
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Eric Bledsoe – Paul George – Amir Coffey – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Kings: None
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (ACL), Serge Ibaka Out (Back), Jason Preston Out (Foot), Keon Johnson Questionable (Illness), Marcus Morris Out (Rest)
Things to Watch
More Run for Starters: The Clippers were short nearly all their key players on Monday, with Paul George, Marcus Morris, and Nic Batum resting in addition to Kawhi and Serge being out with injuries. Of those who did play, Eric Bledsoe logged 10 minutes, Reggie Jackson 7, and Ivica Zubac 11. With only four preseason games, and just about all of the roster set in stone, one has to think the starters get quite a bit more playing time at some point in the preseason, and it might as well be tonight at home. George and Batum are active for this one, so maybe the true rotation gets a half of run before the young guys get run. There’s nothing for any of these guys to prove, but it could be good to see them get into rhythm before the games start to count.
Keon Johnson’s Debut: Those excited to watch the Clippers’ rookies were disappointed on Monday, when Keon Johnson was ruled out just prior to the game with a non-COVID sickness. Keon will likely spend much of the 2022 season down in Agua Caliente with the G-League Clippers, so getting as many minutes of him as possible at the NBA level, even in preseason, will be nice for fans. Keon’s athleticism make him a fun figure out in transition, and it will be interesting to see if he’s added anything since Summer League. Hopefully he’s past his sickness and can play in this one.
Center Battle Continues: Harry Giles, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Moses Wright all got a similar number of minutes in Game 1 of the preseason (16, 14, and 17 respectively), showing that the duel for the last roster spot is still up in the air. Hartenstein played first, played the most with actual rotation players, and looked the best, so I think he has the edge, but certainly all three had their moments. Hartenstein’s passing and rim protection looked fantastic, Giles collected a ton of rebounds, and Wright had a nasty spin move and dunk. If Lue leans more into true rotations in this one, we should get a better sense of who has the advantage at this stage.
George King Making a Push: King, the 59th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, was not taken much note of as a training camp invite. He played just one game for the Suns, and has since played in Italy, Poland, and Germany. The 6’6 wing is an excellent shooter, and showcased that shooting ability with a 3-4 mark from deep in the first preseason game. He also had a nice cut that resulted in an and-one, and just generally was in the right place at the right time. Twelve minutes in preseason is very little to go on, but King was definitely impressive, and will be someone to keep an eye on for the rest of preseason. It seems unlikely he makes the roster, but if he’s really impressive, he could supplant Amir Coffey (or even Jay Scrubb) as a two-way signee.
That’s about it for this preview of the Clippers’ preseason game against the Kings. Comment on the game below!