The Clippers have lost four games in a row to mark their worst stretch in several months, and will try to turn things around on the road against a tanking Mavs squad.
Game Information
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
When: 5:30 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, KTLA, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Darius Garland – Derrick Jones Jr. – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Brook Lopez
Mavericks: Ryan Nembhard – Max Christie – Naji Marshall – PJ Washington – Cooper Flagg
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Questionable (Ankle), Bennedict Mathurin Out (Toe), Yanic Konan Niederhauser Out (Foot), Bradley Beal Out (Hip)
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving Out (Knee), Dereck Lively Out (Foot), Brandon Williams Out (Concussion), Caleb Martin Questionable (Heel)
The Big Picture
The Clippers have lost four games in a row, which dropped them from a comfortable lead over the Portland Trailblazers and Golden State Warriors in the 8th seed into a neck-and-neck heat as well reach the final stretch of the season. The Clippers have been shorthanded for this slide, and have played a very intense March schedule with a lot of games and no rest, but their slippage on defense in particular has been ugly to watch, a reminder of their awful play to start the season. The Clippers need to turn things around, and fast, if they’re going to keep the 8 seed – all hopes of getting up to 7 are gone at this point.
The Antagonist
The Mavs have lost two games in a row and are 2-8 in their last 10 games, as they’ve plummeted down the standings in the past few months to end in 13th in the West (they will not be able to catch Utah or Sacramento in the tank race). Interestingly, unlike some other tanking teams, the Mavs are still playing a bunch of their “real” players, with their starting lineup being composed of guys who would actually play if they were trying to win games. The lack of a starting point guard and injuries to their big man corps are the primary reasons the Mavs are bad; their wing and forward rotation is actually quite good. In short, while they’re tanking and losing games, the Mavs are still relatively talented and frisky, so the Clippers can’t just assume a win.
Notes
Brook Lopez, Slumping: After being a huge part of the Clippers’ turnaround, Brook Lopez has stumbled a bit the past couple weeks. As the oldest player on the team and one of the oldest in the league, all of the minutes Brook has logged (he’s been remarkably healthy all season) in this compact March schedule seem to have taken a toll. In the past six games Brook is only 3-14 from three, with both the accuracy and volume being well below where he’s been most of the season. While Isaiah Jackson has been solid off the bench, the Clippers need Brook to get back on track to close the season, as he both helps space the floor on offense and plugs up gaps on defense with his rim protection. Hopefully as the schedule eases up slightly Brook’s play ticks back up.