The Clippers have just four games left in the 2024 NBA season, and this one against the Suns is a good test run for the playoffs, though the Clippers will once again be without superstar Kawhi Leonard.
Game Information
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570
Tickets: For great deals on Clippers tickets, check out Barry’s Tickets!
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – PJ Tucker – Ivica Zubac
Suns: Bradley Beal – Devin Booker – Grayson Allen – Kevin Durant – Jusuf Nurkic
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Daniel Theis Questionable (Thumb)
Suns: Damion Lee Out (Knee), Jusuf Nurkic Questionable (Ankle)
The Big Picture
The Clippers have won three games in a row and six of their last seven to resolidify themselves as the 4th seed in the hectic Western Conference. Their defense has tightened up, while their offense has regained *some* of the flow that they were missing for most of March. It has been an encouraging stretch, especially with how Paul George has looked. He has recaptured All-Star form, at the very least, and the Clippers will need him to play at that level if they are to make any kind of a deep run. Similarly, while James Harden is still not resembling the guy the Clippers had earlier in the year, the version they’ve had of him the past few games with Kawhi out has still given enough offense and scoring to drive the Clippers forward. The last piece now is Kawhi’s health.
The Antagonist
The Suns have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season. Widely projected as an inner-circle championship contender, the Suns are 46-32 and sit at 6th in the West – and this is actually better than they’ve been most of the season. The Suns have actually had decent health, with Bradley Beal being their only key player to miss more than 20 games this season. The Suns just haven’t clicked, with their defense being ok and their offense ranking as “good” rather than “unstoppable”. In any given game they can look dangerous due to their sheer amount of talent, but in the aggregate are just a solid playoff team.
Notes
Will PJ Tucker Start: The Clippers moved Tucker back into the starting lineup against the Nuggets, a move that makes sense given the Nuggets’ personnel. Tucker has started the next two games as well, but has not played much in any of them, and in the latter two played just a single shift in each half. If Kawhi doesn’t play, Tucker makes sense as a starter to guard Kevin Durant. On the other hand, he gives one of the Suns’ stars a place to hide on defense, and limits the Clippers’ ability to keep up with the Suns on offense. My guess is that he does start, but once again ends up in the 12-15 minute range.
Standings Watch: It’s a busy night in the NBA after the league took a day off yesterday for the NCAA Men’s National Championship game. Other relevant games are the Mavs at Hornets, Pelicans at Blazers, and Warriors at Lakers. The Clippers should be rooting for the Hornets (yikes), Blazers (yikes), and Warriors (underdogs but solid chance). Even if the Clippers lose, a Pelicans loss would mean the Clippers can fall no further than 6th. The Lakers are out of distance, but if they lose, a delightful Warriors-Lakers 9-10 play-in game would be all but assured. And the Mavs are of course the only other team with a truly realistic chance of catching the Clippers at 4. Fingers crossed the Clippers get good luck as well as good play of their own tonight.
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