The LA Clippers return home after a brief one game road trip against the Sacramento Kings to square off against the visiting Denver Nuggets. Keep reading for a full preview of the Clippers’ game against the Nuggets.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 6 p.m. PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Eric Bledsoe – Luke Kennard – Terance Mann – Nicolas Batum – Ivica Zubac
Nuggets: Monte Morris – Will Barton – Aaron Gordon – Jeff Green – Nikola Jokic
Injury Report
Clippers: Paul George out (right elbow), Isaiah Hartenstein out (left ankle), Reggie Jackson out (health and safety protocols), Marcus Morris Sr. out (health and safety protocols), Kawhi Leonard out (right knee), Jason Preston out (right foot).
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon probable, JaMychal Green probable, Bol Bol out (health and safety protocols).
The Big Picture
The Clippers received some bad news on Christmas Day upon learning that Paul George would be out of the lineup for the next three to four weeks, and possibly longer, with a torn ligament in that right elbow that caused him to be sidelined before. It’s just been that kind of a season for the Clippers.
They’re already without Isaiah Hartenstein, who suffered a left ankle sprain against the Oklahoma City Thunder a few games ago, and Reggie Jackson just recently joined Marcus Morris Sr. in health and safety protocols.
On the positive side, Luke Kennard did not appear on the injury report after missing the Sacramento game this past week with a sore right hip. He’ll most likely return to the starting lineup against the Nuggets and will certainly be a featured player in the offense.
This will also be a chance for the young guys to get some playing time and get to show what they can do. Ever since the breakout game against the Boston Celtics, Brandon Boston Jr has been featured regularly in the rotation, but has since come back down to Earth. Keon Johnson played a season-high 14 minutes against the Kings. With the G League season postponed until Jan. 5 and no limitations on the number of games two-way players can spend with their NBA team, both Amir Coffey and Jay Scrubb have rejoined the big club.
This season was always going to be tough with Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely, but the season just got even tougher as the Clippers prepare to start one of the hardest parts of their schedule. The earliest George would be able to return is sometime in late January, and that is no guarantee. Every little game counts and some of those early losses to the Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans start to become magnified now.
This is a team has seemingly been able to respond though when faced with adversity and they’re going to need to lest the season start to slip away quickly as they try to keep pace in a crowded Western Conference.
The Antagonist
The Denver Nuggets were a team that had championship aspirations, but have also been hit with players out of the lineup. Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level, but with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. sidelined with injuries, consistent scoring behind Jokic has been an issue.
The Nuggets currently sit at a disappointing 15-16 and in eighth place in the West standings. They’re only a half game up of the ninth place Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets have also been in the bottom half of the NBA defensively.
In their most recent game on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets, the Nuggets had a 19 point lead at home and blew it in the fourth quarter in a loss.
This is a team that has been very inconsistent this season but also has the potential to be pretty decent. Just like the Clippers, they have had multiple players in and out of the lineup and it’s threatened to derail their season.
Notes
- Serge Ibaka is getting his opportunity to prove he should be back in the rotation. To this point, both Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein have been better on both ends of the court. Ibaka received a few DNPs in a row and was away from the team for a bit due to personal reasons. Tyronn Lue has mentioned he’s had conversations with Ibaka regarding the situation and that it will stay between them for now. With Hartenstein currently out with an ankle sprain, Ibaka has come back into the rotation. He’s a proven vet and is capable of making a difference on both ends. This is is his chance to step up and really help this team.
- The young guns have done a good job putting up numbers in the G League with the Agua Caliente Clippers, but now they’re going to have to be contributors at the NBA level quickly. With an incredibly thin bench, Brandon Boston Jr., Keon Johnson, Amir Coffey, and Jay Scrubb are all going to be counted on to give the Clippers some regular minutes. For Boston and Johnson, they’re going to have to grow up quick. In a way, it will be good for their development to play meaningful roles, but also expect to see some growing pains.