The Los Angeles Clippers return home against a New Orleans Pelicans team shorthanded due to injuries.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena
When: 12 PM PST
How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Norman Powell – Paul George – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado – CJ McCollum – Naji Marshall – Trey Murphy III – Jonas Valanciunas
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard out (injury management), Robert Covington out (health and safety protocols), Brandon Boston (G League assignment), Moussa Diabate (G League assignment), Jason Preston (G League assignment)
Pelicans: Zion Williamson questionable (right posterior hip/low back contusion), Herb Jones questionable (right knee hyperextension), Dyson Daniels out (left ankle), Brandon Ingram out (concussion protocols), Kira Lewis Jr. out (ACL recovery), EJ Liddell out (ACL recovery)
The Big Picture
The LA Clippers return home after a not so successful road trip. They had two games against the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder and they lost both. It is early in the season and the Clippers were missing some key players, but overall it was not a good showing.
The Clippers just have not looked right to begin this season. They look lost at times on the court and they continue to turn the ball over at a high rate. It was turnovers that gave the Thunder an early cushion in the first game despite a poor shooting start, and it was poor defense along with turnovers in the second game that doomed them.
Part of the Clippers early struggles might be able to be explained by the lack of continuity in the lineup. Despite it being early in the season, the Clippers have once again been challenged by an inconsistent lineup. With a combination of injuries, illness and personal reasons, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, John Wall, and Marcus Morris have all missed games. Reggie Jackson and Norman Powell have been struggling.
There are a couple of things though that transpired in the last game that may be good signs for the Clippers. Jackson and Powell seemed to begin to find their legs/rhythm. Jackson has been bothered by a groin injury although it hasn’t caused him to miss time. Powell just hasn’t looked quite comfortable in the rotation but in the last game he finished with 21 points on efficient shooting.
Another welcoming sign for the Clippers is that John Wall is not on the injury report. He was also under injury management, having sat out the initial game of the Clippers first set of back-to-backs last weekend but he is good to go this time around.
The Antagonist
The New Orleans Pelicans come to town with their own set of injury problems. Zion Williamson took a hard fall last week against the Utah Jazz and he’s been out of the lineup since then. Brandon Ingram also was hurt in that game and has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol. Promising young wing Herb Jones is a question mark as well.
Even so, this is a solid team that is extremely well-coached. They beat the Dallas Mavericks the other day without those players, and on Friday they put up a fight against the Phoenix Suns on the road. This is not a team to be taken lightly. and with the Clippers facing their own lineup omissions, it certainly has the feel of a trap game.
The Clippers need to come out and set the tone early, limit turnovers, and look to get a strong lead by halftime. The third quarter was not kind to the Clippers on their recent road trip, so a much improved effort after halftime is a necessity. This is the type of game the Clippers should win with the players who are still available, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they struggle through this one too.
