Seriously, how often do two teams so near to one another in the standings feel so far apart? The LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers resume their campaigns in vastly different moods. Read on for our full game preview of the Clippers against the Lakers:
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: ESPN, Bally Sports West, AM 570
Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson — Terance Mann — Marcus Morris Sr. — Nicolas Batum — Ivica Zubac
Lakers: Russell Westbrook — Malik Monk — LeBron James — Stanley Johnson — Dwight Howard
Injuries
Clippers: OUT — Kawhi Leonard (ACL); OUT — Paul George (elbow); OUT — Norman Powell (foot); OUT — Jason Preston (foot); OUT — Jay Scrubb (toe)
Lakers: OUT — Anthony Davis (ankle); OUT — Kendrick Nunn (knee); OUT — Avery Bradley (knee); QUESTIONABLE — LeBron James (knee); PROBABLE (hamstring) — Carmelo Anthony
The Big Picture
. . . is positive, all things considered.
No matter who suits up, and it’s been a different crew almost every night, they fight and they claw and they play with joy and optimism. Those are qualities this franchise’s history has generally been short on.
Paul George will undergo an MRI today, and his status will inform the Clippers’ chances of running down the sixth seed and a guaranteed playoff berth. The gap remaining is not insignificant, and as well as this team has tread water without its stars, the play-in round becomes more likely with each additional day they remain on the sidelines.
As for the actual basketball product, the pressing question of the moment pertains to the point guards, or rather, the lack of them. We got a brief look before the All-Star break at what this team will do to help Reggie Jackson’s ball-handling load. Expect Ty Lue and staff to keep rotating through the hot hand until a more solid option reveals itself, while the front office sifts through its remaining free agent and buyout options.
All in all, it’s not a bad place to be.
The Antagonist
. . . is in a bad place.
Where do we begin?
LeBron James is conspicuously complimenting other teams in yet another passive-aggressive raise of the nose to his own front office. Seems like a healthy thing to do.
Anthony Davis will miss several weeks with an ankle sprain. The team wishes he would find a healthier thing to do.
Russell Westbrook is healthy, but it seems like his team (and its fans) wish he weren’t. They certainly wish he weren’t here. With Davis out and LeBron questionable, Frank Vogel will have no choice but to ride the embattled guard.
Things could be worse for the Lakers, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Game Thread
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