After clinching their regular season series with the fatigued Phoenix Suns, the L.A. Clippers (35-18) will hope for a similar result against the Houston Rockets (14-37) while on the backend of their own back-to-back Friday. Read on for our full Clippers vs. Rockets game preview.
Clippers vs. Rockets Game Information
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
When: 7 p.m. PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570 L.A. Sports, 1330 AM Tu Liga
Projected Starting Lineups:
L.A. Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Luke Kennard – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris Sr. – Ivica Zubac
Houston Rockets: Avery Bradley – Kevin Porter Jr. – Jae’Sean Tate – Kelly Olynyk – Christian Wood
Injury Report:
L.A. Clippers: Patrick Beverley – OUT (Sore Left Hand), Paul George – OUT (Rest), Serge Ibaka – OUT (Lower Back Tightness), Reggie Jackson – QUESTIONABLE (Right Eye Contusion), Rajon Rondo – QUESTIONABLE (Right Adductor Soreness)
Houston Rockets: Danté Exum – OUT (Right Calf Strain), Eric Gordon – OUT (Right Groin Strain), Danuel House Jr. – OUT (Right Ankle Sprain), David Nwaba – OUT (Right Wrist Sprain), John Wall – OUT (Left Achilles Injury Recovery)
The Big Picture
Spirits are running high within Clipper Nation as LAC has strung together a timely 3-game winning streak in DTLA, securing postseason seeding tiebreakers against the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers and the Suns. With a lot to look forward to in having the league’s second easiest strength of schedule the rest of the way, the Clippers are set up to potentially make a run for both of the brutal Western Conference’s Top-2 seeds.
Up next, L.A. will face the Rockets in the eighth game of their nine-game homestand. While this will be the Clippers’ third game in four nights, the team is 8-1 this season in games with zero days of rest. With the 213 star duo rolling offensively, the team’s depth starting to materialize and its defense continuing to be in some of the best shape it’s been all season, Friday night should see another tally added in the Clippers’ win column against sub .500 teams this season (16-6, 8-3 at home).
The Antagonist
Coming off a feel-good 102-93 upset victory at home against Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks, the Rockets will be entering Staples Center with an extra bit of swagger tonight. Albeit their April 7 win ended what was a 5-game losing skid, during that stretch was a 130-133 effort sans John Wall against the Suns in which Devin Booker scored 18 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter. As Rockets first-year head coach Stephen Silas and co. try to make the best of their tough season, the Clippers will need to match Houston’s energy from the opening buzzer—a small ask with five of their players inactive for the contest.
Leading a skeleton crew devoid of the services of James Harden for the first time in nine seasons, the 6-foot-10 Christian Wood has been essential to the Rockets’ winning recipe all season-long as their leading scorer. After being dealt from Miami to Houston in a trade deadline package for Victor Oladipo, Kelly Olynyk is averaging 17.4 points (59.7% FG), 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and about a steal and a block through seven games. Along with Ja Morant, Houston’s Kevin Porter Jr. is the only other NBA sophomore averaging at least 15.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds.
Clippers vs. Rockets Game Notes
- Late Scratch Watch: After getting poked in the eye Thursday, Reggie Jackson has reportedly experienced some minor swelling that shouldn’t be anything to worry about according to Tyronn Lue. In addition to Jackson, it will be interesting to see if the Clippers rule out any of the big minutes guys closer to tip-off.
- Rotating Reserves: With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard pushing 38 and 34 minutes last night, respectively, this game should hold plenty of opportunity for Lue to go deep into his bench for subs as he continues to figure out the roles and preferred combinations of his now 17-man roster.
- Enjoy that Home Cooking: Sitting at 5-2 so far on their nine-game homestand, the Clippers will play the Rockets in Los Angeles just once during the condensed 72-game regular season as their next two meetings with Houston will take place at the Lone Star State’s Toyota Center.
Feel free to stick around and chat down below as this article’s comment section will serve as our live game thread tonight against the Houston Rockets. Sign up for a free account and join the conversation!
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