The LA Clippers return home after a three-game road trip to take on the visiting Toronto Raptors.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 p.m PST
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Amir Coffey – Nicolas Batum – Marcus Morris Sr. – Ivica Zubac
Raptors: Fred VanVleet – Gary Trent Jr. – Scottie Barnes – Pascal Siakam -Precious Achiuwa
Injury Report
Clippers: Paul George out (right elbow), Kawhi Leonard out (right knee), Norman Powell out (left foot), Jason Preston out (right foot), Jay Scrubb out (right foot).
Raptors: Fred VanVleet questionable (knee), OG Anunoby doubtful (finger), Malachi Flynn out (hamstring).
The Big Picture
With only a handful of games left in the regular season, the LA Clippers are pretty much locked in to eighth place in the Western Conference and a spot in the play-in. As a result, they can afford to rest players in the final stretch as they did Monday in Cleveland.
With Reggie Jackson being one of the beneficiaries of getting late season rest, it’s brought up the question as to whether or not the Clippers should have brought in a point guard for insurance since without Jackson there isn’t another true point guard on the roster.
But the team’s thinking seems to be that instead of bringing in a completely new player, both Terance Mann and Amir Coffey can both get more reps as ball-handlers and playmakers. After the Cleveland game, Ivica Zubac mentioned that there are a few players on the team that have experience running the point and are able to fill in despite the occasional absence of a true ball-handler.
In any case, it’s been a long and grueling season for the Clippers and getting some of the veteran guys who have been shouldering heavy loads this season some rest before the postseason is a good thing.
The Antagonist
Much like the Clippers, the Toronto Raptors come into the matchup also battling for playoff positioning. They’re only one game back of the sixth seeded Cavaliers and avoiding the play-in tournament altogether.
This is a group that despite some major departures from their 2019 championship team, is still a very formidable and dangerous opponent. They have two All-Star caliber players in Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam. They have a budding star in Scottie Barnes. And the Raptors have a few additional key young players in Gary Trent Jr., Precious Achiuwa, and OG Anunoby, who will not play against the Clippers.
Nick Nurse has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in the NBA and one who will get the most out of his roster. This is a team that likes to get out in the open court and score in transition, so limiting their fast break opportunities is going to be crucial for the Clippers.
For that, it’s going to take a combination of smart offense to limit Toronto’s rebounding opportunities as well as getting back on defense to disrupt the Raptors fast breaks.
Notes
- With only 11 games left in the regular season, there’s still been no concrete word as to whether or not Kawhi Leonard or Paul George are expected back this season. During a recent pregame availability, a seemingly exasperated Tyronn Lue stated that he was tired of talking about it and that if there’s any new information, he’ll let everyone know. It was a bit of a dream for Clippers fans to imagine Leonard and George returning in time for the playoffs and sparking the Clippers to a miracle run, but it’s looking increasingly likely that the dream will have to wait until next season and that as Lue said, the focus should be on the guys who have been fighting and clawing every single day.