The Clippers will look to build off their encouraging win against the Pistons in a tough matchup against the visiting Knicks.
Game Information
Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Knicks: Jalen Brunson – Mikal Bridges – Josh Hart – OG Anunoby – Karl-Anthony Towns
Clippers: James Harden – Bogdan Bogdanovic – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Clippers: Norm Powell Out (Hamstring), Ben Simmons Out (Knee)
Knicks: Precious Achiuwa Doubtful (Hamstring), Ariel Hukporti Out (Knee)
The Big Picture
It’s very difficult to know what to make of the Clippers, who followed up their worst loss of the season (and one of the worst losses any team has had this year) to the Suns on Tuesday with a rousing victory at home against the Pistons on Wednesday. The defense, which had been so bad against the Suns in the second half, stabilized, while James Harden came through with a true superstar-level performance. It was the recipe the Clippers saw for much of the first half of the year, though that Harden outing was truly special in a way that won’t be regular. Can they keep up the defense? Can they avoid the careless turnovers that lead to their transition defense being exposed? Can their stars continue to make star-type impacts? These are the questions the Clippers need to answer the last 20 games of the season.
The Antagonist
After looking like one of the clear best teams in the NBA for much of the season, the Knicks have hit a rough patch of late. In particular, their defense has fallen off, with some embarrassing performances on that end to top-end teams like the Celtics and Cavaliers. Still, the Knicks are 40-21, the clear third best team in the East, and have two All-NBA players in KAT and Jalen Brunson to go along with three excellent role players in Anunoby, Bridges, and Hart. The bench is more of a question, but the return of Mitchell Robinson will help there, and Deuce McBride has been excellent this season. If the Knicks can just make it to the playoffs healthy, they have the talent to make a run in the East, even if they are a tier below the Cavs and Celts.
Notes
DJJ Back: Derrick Jones Jr. missed the last three games with a groin strain but is off the injury report for tonight’s contest. What will be interesting is whether he will return to the starting lineup tonight or come off the bench. He has been a starter for most of the season, including starting alongside Kris Dunn when Kawhi was out, but Ty Lue has gone to Bogdan Bogdanovic the past couple games with DJJ out and I have a hunch Ty might stick with Bogi in the starting unit with Norm out. Now, DJJ could replace Dunn in the unit and Bogi could still start, but it seems like Dunn has become entrenched with the starters (for now, at least). I am curious as to how DJJ is deployed, but regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench, it will be great to have his defense, transition scoring, and above-the-rim presence back on the court.
Drive, Drive, Drive: Karl-Anthony Towns is a tremendous player, one of the best offensive forces in the entire NBA. What he is not, however, is a good rim protector. The Clippers will face some tough perimeter defenders on the Knicks, but they can’t settle for good shots, and must continue to attack Towns in the paint. Not only should they be able to score on Towns, but if they can get him in foul trouble they remove the Knicks’ most potent offensive weapon. Even better, the Clippers will have a rest advantage on the Knicks, who played last night against the Lakers (so no travel for the Knicks, but still a back-to-back). The Clippers have to be active and keep moving on offense against a weary Knicks team.
