The LA Clippers have finally come to end of their Grammy road trip which concludes Monday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Game Information
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
When: 4:00 p.m. PST
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Amir Coffey – Terance Mann – Marcus Morris Sr. – Ivica Zubac
Pacers: Caris LeVert – Chris Duarte – Justin Holiday – Torrey Craig – Domantas Sabonis
Injury Report
Clippers: Paul George out (right elbow), Kawhi Leonard out (right knee), Jason Preston out (right foot), Keon Johnson (G League Assignment), Nicolas Batum questionable (lower back).
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon out (right Achilles), Myles Turner out (left foot), T.J. McConnell out (right wrist), T.J. Warren out (left foot), Goga Bitadze out (right foot).
The Big Picture
The Clippers are finally on the verge of returning home after what was supposed to be a grueling road trip that could possibly make or break the season. Not that the road trip wasn’t grueling, but the Clippers really rallied together and salvaged what could’ve been an absolute disaster of a trip.
This road trip alone featured multiple games in which the Clippers found themselves down double digits only to pull off a win, including a 30+ point deficit against the Washington Wizards that ended in victory by a single point off a Luke Kennard four-point play.
Despite all the adversity and struggle and inconsistent lineups this team has faced, they’ve remained one of the strongest and most cohesive teams in the NBA. This team genuinely likes being around each other. They like playing together and they truly believe that they are never out of any game, that they always have a chance.
They’re currently 4-3 on the trip with the chance to come back to Los Angeles on a high note and go 5-3. To do that, they’ll have to avoid any letdowns after their big Sunday matinee win over the Charlotte Hornets as they prepare to square off against the Indiana Pacers on a back-to-back.
It’s possible that on the last game of the trip, the Clippers opt to rest a couple of players. Nicolas Batum was questionable heading into the Charlotte game and he ended up sitting out with back soreness. He might also sit out tonight to prepare for an equally grueling early February schedule.
The Antagonist
This Pacers team is not that much different from the one the Clippers beat at home in their last game before heading out on the Grammy road trip. They’ve been a major disappointment and are near the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference.
Trade rumors continue to swirl around this team and they’ll still be without Myles Turner, who has been one of the main players on the team who has had his name thrown about in trade talks for a while now.
With the absence of some of their veteran players, the Pacers have had the opportunity to see what some of their younger guys are able to do, most notably Duane Washington Jr. and Isaiah Jackson. Both had strong games off the bench in the team’s Saturday loss against the Dallas Mavericks.
Washington poured in 22 points on 50 percent shooting from three-point range and Jackson had 12 points and six rebounds in about 18 minutes. Development of the young players is the name of the game for the Pacers heading into the second half of the season.
Notes
- Justice Winslow has really earned himself minutes in the rotation. He does a lot of things on the court with his versatility, and he’s started to become comfortable in the offense as opposed to earlier in the season when he was a little timid. He’s been playing hard defensively and his drives to the rim are much more decisive and focused: he either goes to finish the play or he kicks to an open teammate. His emergence highlights what really is a deep Clippers rotation, whose deepness is what has kept the Clippers afloat.
That about does it for this preview of the Clippers’ game against the Pacers. Comment below!
