The Clippers will seek to win their sixth game in a row against the team right above them in the standings, the Utah Jazz.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Jazz: Keyonte George – Brice Sensabaugh – Taylor Hendricks – Lauri Markkanen – Jusuf Nurkic

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Brook Lopez

Injuries

Jazz: Walker Kessler Out (Shoulder), Ace Bailey Out (Hip), Georges Niang Out (Foot)

Clippers: Bogdan Bogdanovic Out (Hamstring), Ivica Zubac Out (Ankle), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

The Big Picture

The Clippers’ win streak has reached five games, with their most emphatic being their demolishing of the Kings on Tuesday night. That massive 43-point victory raised their offensive rating from 17^th in the NBA to 11^th, brought their defensive rating up from 26^th to 22^nd, and boosted their net rating from 24^th to 19^th. In short, the Clippers’ metrics are finally starting to take the shape of a competent/mediocre team instead of an awful one – big strides from a couple of weeks ago. Kawhi Leonard remains scorching hot, role players are continuing to hit threes, and the defense is holding a semblance of organization and activity that it did not have early in the season. Hello, 2026 Clippers, it’s been nice of you to finally show up.

The Antagonist

The Jazz have surprised so far this season, as their record of 12-20 is a lot more competent than most people would have predicted heading into the year. The Jazz are winning games entirely on the offensive end, as they somehow boast the 13^th ranked attack in the NBA. Nearly all of the Jazz’s damage is done by Lauri Markkanen (insanely efficient scoring and diverse scoring package) and Keyonte George (having a truly shocking breakout third season), with most of the rest of the team being in support roles. The Jazz’s defense is what lets them down, as without Walker Kessler they possess basically no plus defenders on the entire roster. They are a dangerous team that plays hard and has two legit weapons, which is why they’ve beaten multiple very good teams this year. You can’t sleep against the Jazz.

Notes

Must Win Part Two, Electric Boogaloo: All of the caveats I wrote for the Kings game apply here. But this is another game the Clippers simply need to win if they want to continue their climb into the playoff picture. The Jazz, as mentioned above, are not awful, but the Clippers are at home, have been getting steady rest, and are playing well. In terms of the standings, if the Clippers win this one, they will be tied with the Jazz for 11^th in the West, putting them, somehow, just one spot back of the play-in. Another blowout like the Kings game would be fantastic, but any sort of Clippers’ win would be huge for the standings and to keep their momentum rolling.

Kawhi Leonard, Superstar: The biggest change over the past two weeks is that Kawhi Leonard has elevated from a level of “very good” to “superstar”. He can’t miss a shot, which helps, but the biggest changes to me are on defense and on the glass. Kawhi has mostly been extremely effective on offense this season and last season, yet the rest of his game (and impact metrics) lagged. Now, those other elements are rounding into place, and are a big reason the Clippers’ defense suddenly looks competent. Kawhi’s BPM of 7.5 is superstar caliber, and he’s now 5^th in the league in EPM. If he continues playing like this, Kawhi will be rightfully back in awards discussions such as All Star and All NBA. The crazy shooting won’t last forever, but hopefully the rest of his game will sustain.

Clippers vs Jazz Preview: A Big Game for the Standings
Robert Flom

The Clippers have won four games in a row and now have what should be an easier contest at home against the miserable Kings.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 8:00 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Kings: Russell Westbrook – Keon Ellis – DeMar DeRozan – Maxime Reynaud – Precious Achiuwa

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Brook Lopez

Injuries

Kings: Domantas Sabonis Out (Knee), Zach LaVine Out (Ankle), Keegan Murray Questionable (Calf)

Clippers: John Collins Questionable (Illness), Bogdan Bogdanovic Out (Hip), Ivica Zubac Out (Ankle), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

The Big Picture

The Clippers have won four games in a row, and done so in mostly encouraging fashion. Are they relying a little too heavily on an absolutely ridiculous Kawhi shooting streak? Sure. But Kawhi’s play has improved in more sustainable ways outside of just making every shot he takes, notably on the glass and on defense. Brook Lopez’s competence on both ends after looking dreadful the first six weeks of the season also seems reasonably sustainable. Derrick Jones returned on Sunday and didn’t contribute a ton but looked healthy. This is a team that is finally looking competent on defense, and when you combine that with Kawhi and Harden on offense, they might actually be turning the page. I still need to see a bit more before getting optimistic, yet it’s hard not to be encouraged. Now let’s see them in a game they really should win.

The Antagonist

The Kings have the fourth-worst record in the NBA, ahead of only the youthful Pelicans, Wizards, and Pacers. Their Net Rating is even worse, sitting at 29^th with the 27^th defense and 29^th offense. Much like the Clippers for the first couple of months, they aren’t good at almost anything. Similarly to the Clippers, the Kings also thought they’d be good this year, and are a veteran-laden team that doesn’t have a ton of assets. The Kings do have some interesting young players: Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Reynaud. That softens the miserable season a bit. At some point the Kings will probably trade off veterans like DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Dennis Schroder to recoup some assets, and maybe at that point they’ll get a tad more fun. Until then, yuck.

Notes

Must Win: As always, it’s a bit hyperbolic to say that a game in December is a must win. However, this is as close as it gets considering the time of year. The Kings are dreadful, one of the few teams that has been more miserable than the Clippers all year. They are missing a couple key players. The Clippers are at home, and have had a bit of rest. The Kings are back of the Clippers in the standings, and every Kings’ loss puts them closer to a full tank and out of the Clippers’ rearview. This is a game the Clippers really need to win if they are serious about getting to the postseason. A loss would be inexcusable.

Clippers vs Kings Preview: Can the Clips Win an Easy One?
Robert Flom

The Clippers have won three games in a row and finally have some good injury news with Derrick Jones Jr. making his much-anticipated return.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 6:00 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Pistons: Cade Cunningham – Duncan Robinson – Ausar Thompson – Tobias Harris – Jalen Duren

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Brook Lopez

Injuries

Pistons: None

Clippers: Bogdan Bogdanovic Out (Hip), Ivica Zubac Out (Ankle), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Chris Paul Out (Not with team), Cam Christie Questionable (Ankle)

The Big Picture

The Clippers have won three games in a row, getting their first win streak of the season right as we are about to head to 2026. The Clippers have done their damage against at least reasonably competent teams as well (I think the injury-plagued Blazers and Luka-less still meet that bar) – it’s not like all of their wins have come against the NBA’s dregs. While the Clippers’ defense has perked up somewhat of late, it’s really their offense that is driving these wins; the Clippers’ offense ranks 9^th in the NBA over the last five games, and 12^th over the last 10. If the Clippers can continue making threes at a high clip, keeping their turnovers down, and playing at least “ok” defense, they should be back in business at least as a play-in level team.

The Antagonist

The Pistons are one of the positive surprises of the NBA season, improving upon a frisky playoff appearance last year by leading the Eastern Conference in wins one-third of the way through the season. Advanced stats are somewhat less kind to the Pistons, as both the Knicks and Celtics have a better net rating than Detroit. Still, the Pistons boast the 2^nd-best defense and 8^th-best offense in the NBA, making them a quite well-rounded team. Cade Cunningham is the driving factor on offense, with Jalen Duren’s leap giving the Pistons a premier roller and finisher at the rim. The defense is a group effort, with Ausar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland, and Duren being their leading forces on that end. The Pistons could probably use a better second playmaker next to Cade if they really want to win a championship, but their defense is legit and they play hard every game.

Notes

DJJ Back: Shams Charania announced yesterday that Derrick Jones Jr. is available to play for today’s game, marking a return to play after a 6 week absence due to a sprained knee. DJJ started for most of last year and was a starter this year, but I think I’d be a bit surprised if he started right away tomorrow. Harden, Kawhi, and Brook Lopez seem like locks (at least as of now, for Brook), and Kris Dunn and John Collins have both played well recently. A week or two ago, I might have said DJJ should start over Collins, but that seems less likely now. And while DJJ is probably a better player than Dunn, Dunn’s ability to at least bring the ball up the court a lot is valuable for taking some of the load off of Harden. It’s also possible DJJ has a minutes restriction early into his return. The other question is whether anyone will lose a rotation spot to DJJ, and right now, with Bogi out, I think not – I’d guess DJJ, Nico, Kobe Sanders, Jordan Miller, and Yanic all play tonight. As DJJ rounds into shape, I do wonder if Miller/Bogi will lose their spot, or if the Clippers go small in the second unit and excise Neiderhauser. Either way, it’s exciting to see DJJ back.

Clippers vs Pistons Preview: Derrick Jones Jr. Returns
Robert Flom

The Clippers have won two games in a row, and have a chance to get their first winning season on the road against a beat-up Blazers team.

Game Information

Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon

When: 7:00 PM PT

How to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Brook Lopez

Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe – Toumani Camara – Deni Avdija – Kris Murray – Donovan Clingan

Injuries

Clippers: Ivica Zubac Out (Ankle), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

Blazers: Damian Lillard Out (Achilles), Blake Wesley Out (Foot), Matisse Thybulle Out (Thumb), Jrue Holiday Out (Calf), Scoot Henderson Out (Hamstring), Jerami Grant Questionable (Achilles), Robert Williams Questionable (Knee)

The Big Picture

The Clippers have won two games in a row for just the second time all season, and are coming off by far their best victory of the entire campaign. Their nearly wire-to-wire win over the Rockets showed everything we thought this team could be preseason: a superstar performance from Kawhi Leonard, precision floor generalship by James Harden, nasty perimeter defense from Kris Dunn, and timely three-point shooting from John Collins, Nic Batum, and Kobe Sanders. The Clippers looked connected on both ends of the court for one of the only times this year, and even more surprisingly, held together competent play for just about the entire game. Two good games is not enough for a season turnaround, but if the Clippers can keep it going for a third game I think people will start to get their hopes up.

The Antagonist

After a hot start to the year, the Blazers have slumped, largely due to injury. They now rank 22^nd on both side of the ball, and are hanging onto the bottom of the play-in race by a thread. Few teams in the NBA have been snakebitten as hard as the Blazers, who have not had their presumptive starting point guard in Scoot Henderson all year and have been without veteran leader Jrue Holiday for weeks as well, in addition to other injuries. Those absences have forced more unheralded players into the rotation, with Caleb Love, Rayan Rupert, Sidy Cissoko, and Duop Reath all getting extended rotation minutes. The Blazers’ star is breakout forward Deni Avdija, but watch out for Robert Williams if he plays – he’s still been highly impactful when available.

Notes

John Collins Turnaround: Just like the Clippers in general, it’s too soon to say John Collins has turned his season around. However, he has easily put together his best three-game stretch of the season this past week, going for 20 and 4 against the Thunder (7-13 shooting), 17 and 12 against the Lakers (7-10 shooting), and 13, 5, and 5 against the Rockets (5-8 shooting) while shooting 6-10 from three across those contests. The defense has, if anything, been even more encouraging, as the discipline and rotations have looked better. This is the John Collins we thought the Clippers were getting, and if he plays closer to this level the rest of the year, the Clippers will be a much better team. His combination of shooting and interior scoring is just not replaceable, nor is his size on defense. Let’s hope this stretch turns into a rest-of-season type of deal.

Kris Dunn’s Shooting: Like almost every other Clippers player, I think Dunn has had a somewhat disappointing year after his awesome 2025 season. However, my feelings towards Dunn are entirely about his defense. His offensive production has been far improved this year, as he’s raised his scoring (6.4 to 8.4 points per game), field goal percentage (43.9 to 50), free throw rate (0.3 attempts per game to 1.1), and three-point shooting (33.5 to 39.1). Teams are still leaving him open from three, but he’s made them pay more frequently. And for recent trends, Dunn is 14-29 from deep in his last five games. More encouraging than the percentage (unsustainable) are the attempts – Dunn should be getting up 5+ attempts from deep per game considering how open he is most of the time, and the only way to make teams guard you more is by shooting. I don’t think Dunn will be Kyle Korver any time soon, but if his improved shooting sustains, the Clippers’ spacing could as well.

Clippers vs Blazers Preview: Can The Clippers Get Their First Win Streak of 2026
Robert Flom

The Clippers will start an extended stretch without starting center Ivica Zubac against one of the worst teams possible for such an absence, the physical and bruising Houston Rockets.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: NBC, Peacock, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Rockets: Amen Thompson – Josh Okogie – Kevin Durant – Jabari Smith Jr. – Alperen Sengun

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Brook Lopez

Injuries

Rockets: Fred VanVleet Out (Knee), Dorian Finney-Smith Out (Ankle)

Clippers: Ivica Zubac Out (Ankle), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

The Big Picture

The Clippers got one of their best wins of the season Saturday over the rival Lakers, but suffered a devastating injury loss, with Ivica Zubac ruled out the next three weeks at least with an ankle sprain. Zu has maybe had a slightly disappointing year, but he’s still the third-best player on the team by a mile, and his erstwhile backup Brook Lopez is maybe the most disappointing player on the whole roster. Brook will play a lot, but it seems as though rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser will also get an extended look at rotation minutes. Beyond that, there’s small ball, which has mostly not borne much fruit for the Clippers this year. Derrick Jones Jr. will return soon-ish, but with both him and Zu out the Clippers’ defense will likely be disastrous.

The Antagonist

The Rockets, meanwhile, have had two awful losses in their past three games, dropping games to the Pelicans and Jazz sandwiched around a great win over the Nuggets. Their underlying statistics remain formidable, with excellent numbers on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The eye test is not always as kind, as the Rockets sometimes seem quite over-dependent on offensive rebounds and lack structure in the halfcourt on that end. Still, despite the ugly losses, the Rockets remain in the upper tier of the Western Conference and are a bruising opponent on a night-to-night basis.

Notes

Do We See John Collins at Center: When the Clippers have gone small this year, they’ve usually done so with Nic Batum or even Kobe Brown at center. Oddly, the Clippers have rarely played John Collins as a small-ball center. While Collins has not been particularly effective this year, especially on defense, he’s the biggest non-center the Clippers have and he’s also one of their better rebounders (low bar). His athleticism and ability to finish at the rim also make him a seemingly dynamic offensive threat in a spaced, small-ball unit. While I’m fine with Brook and Yanic getting extended stints, at some point over the next few weeks the Clippers need to explore the small-ball Collins units and see what they can do in real games.

Tough Matchup: The Rockets are a better team than the Clippers and are a difficult matchup due to their size, athleticism, and youth. Their overwhelming presence on the glass is going to be even more potent with Zu not playing. Even under normal circumstances the Clippers would be hard-pressed to win this game. With Zu out, even a competitive loss would be a moral victory.

Clippers vs Rockets Preview: Zu Out, Yanic In
Robert Flom

The Clippers will return home to square off against the rival Lakers in a game that seems more lopsided by standings than it is on paper. Maybe the Clippers can turn their season around with a win? Yeah, probably not.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: NBA TV, KTLA, FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Lakers: Luka Doncic – Marcus Smart – Rui Hachimura – LeBron James – Jaxson Hayes

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Lakers: Austin Reaves Out (Calf), DeAndre Ayton Out (Elbow), Gabe Vincent Out (Back), Rui Hachimura Questionable (Groin)

Clippers: Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Chris Paul Out (Not with team), Yanic Konan Niederhauser Out (Knee), Cam Christie Questionable (Foot)

The Big Picture

The Clippers are just one loss ahead of the surging Pelicans for the worst record in the Western Conference. They have continued to tease in recent weeks, putting together strong quarters and even halves before collapsing in the rest of the game. Such was the case against the Thunder on Thursday, where an excellent first quarter and decent starter stints in the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters were undermined by horrid bench units that saw the Thunder run away with the game late in the 3^rd. The Clippers’ starting unit might be starting to play a bit better, but it’s not good enough, and certainly not enough to overcome a bench that right now is just lacking in NBA rotation-level talent.

The Antagonist

The Lakers continue to win at a remarkable clip despite advanced metrics saying they aren’t *that good* of a team. The evil empire is 19-7, the 4^th best record in the West and 5^th best in the entire league, but are just 12^th in Net Rating with a +1.7. They are therefore winning a lot because they are coming out victorious in all of their crunch-time games. That might regress at some point, but having three creators and playmakers like Luka, Reaves, and LeBron does make end-of-game situations a plus for the Lakers. It makes sense that the Lakers are excellent (6^th) on offense and pretty bad (22^nd) on defense. They are getting just enough from supporting players like Smart, Ayton, and Hachimura to keep afloat when one of their “Big 3” is out. The Lakers maybe aren’t world beaters, but they are a very good team that has a chance in any game due to their high-end talent.

Notes

A Real Chance: Look, the Lakers are a lot better than the Clippers. No game is an easy win for the Clippers right now, not even close. But the Lakers without Reaves and Ayton, and possibly without Hachimura, are a team that the Clippers should at least have a true shot at beating. The Lakers don’t have two perimeter defenders to match up with Kawhi and Harden, and Zu should (theoretically) be able to outplay Hayes. If the Clippers can get a big night from any of the Bogi-Collins-Dunn trio of rotation players (the only non Harden-Zu-Kawhi guys who have had remotely impactful games recently), they could really win this. The Clippers are so far below the ground that one win won’t be enough to turn the season around, but a victory over the Lakers could at least temporarily cure the vibes.

Clippers vs Lakers Preview: Chance for a Turn-Around
Robert Flom

The Clippers travel to OKC in what was the most challenging game on their calendar even before the news that James Harden is out due to injury.

Game Information

Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

When: 5:00 PM PT

How to Watch: NBA TV, FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: Bogdan Bogdanovic – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Ivica Zubac

Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Cason Wallace – Lu Dort – Jalen Williams – Chet Holmgren

Injuries

Clippers: James Harden Out (Calf), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Chris Paul Out (Not with team), Yanic Konan Niederhauser Out (Knee)

Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein Out (Rest), Jaylin Williams Out (Heel), Nikola Topic Out (Cancer), Thomas Sorber Out (Knee)

The Big Picture

The Clippers have lost four games in a row, falling to a tie with the Sacramento Kings for the 13^th spot in the Western Conference. Perhaps even more embarrassingly, there are just two teams in the entire NBA with worse records: the 5-22 Pelicans and 4-20 Wizards. That the Clippers are right down there with the true dregs of the NBA despite their veteran roster and preseason expectations is an organizational catastrophe, especially as we are now at the one-third mark of the NBA season. Their Net Rating is 25^th in the league, ahead of the Wizards, Pelicans, Kings, Pacers, and Jazz, meaning the underlying indicators are only very slightly better than the actual record. The defense remains embarrassingly bad (26^th), and until that improves the Clippers just won’t win many games.

The Antagonist

The Thunder are coming off a disappointing loss as well. Unlike the Clippers, it’s only their second disappointing loss of the season. The Thunder are 24-2, have the best Net Rating in NBA history, and are undefeated at home. Even with a couple losses on their resume, they will be favorites in almost every game they play in the rest of the season, except maybe road contests against the other best teams in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is neck-and-neck with Jokic for early-season MVP, Chet Holmgren has leveled up, Ajay Mitchell is a steal, and the roster is extremely deep in rotation caliber players. Even discounting Chet and Jalen Johnson, you could make credible cases for Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe as being better than any Clippers’ player after Harden, Kawhi, and Zu. It’s an embarrassment of riches for the best team in the league.

Notes

No Harden: James Harden will miss his second game of the season, and it will be his first miss due to injury. Apparently, his status for Saturday night against the Lakers is up in the air as well. The Clippers should get a boost in defense with Harden out, but the damage to their offense would be catastrophic even if they weren’t playing the best defense in the NBA. I’d guess Bogdan Bogdanovic starts, but it’s possible RayJ Dennis gets thrown into the fire as a more “traditional” point guard option. If the Clippers can even be respectable in this game without Harden, it would count as a moral victory of some kind. Let’s just hope Harden’s calf heals up quickly, because their situation would go from “desperately bad” to “utterly hopeless” if he were to miss real time.

Clippers vs Thunder Preview: Toughest Game of the Year
Robert Flom

The Clippers are back in Los Angeles/Inglewood after primarily living on the road the past few weeks, and a home crowd could be what’s needed to get them back on track as we head into the holidays.

Game Information

Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Grizzlies: Ja Morant – Jaylen Wells – Cedric Coward – Santi Aldama – Jaren Jackson Jr.

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke Doubtful (Knee), Zach Edey Out (Ankle), Scotty Pippen Jr. Out (Toe), Ty Jerome Out (Calf), John Konchar Out (Thumb), Javon Small Out (Toe)

Clippers: James Harden Questionable (Calf), Nic Batum Questionable (Illness), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

The Big Picture

The Clippers lost another close game on Thursday before getting a second extended rest. They have only played one game in the past week, which should be good for old legs and for getting practice reps. Their last four games have been comparatively better than a lot of their play this season, but until wins start coming, the process doesn’t mean as much. They have yet to play a truly complete game unless you count their win against the injury-ravaged Hawks or a couple of their very, very early-season wins, and that needs to change if they are going to start making up ground in the Western Conference.

The Antagonist

The Grizzlies have already reversed their fortunes somewhat since their first game against the Clippers a couple weeks back, jumping past the Clippers, Jazz, Blazers, and Mavs in the standings to move into a play-in spot. That said, they’re still only 11-14 and have looked shaky whenever Zach Edey is not on the floor. With Edey out for four weeks, it’s reasonable to expect the Grizz to sink back down a bit, even with Ja Morant back. A big question for them: can Brandon Clarke (expected to return very soon if not tonight) give them anything, or is he shot due to injuries?

Notes

A Tough Schedule: While the Clippers have disappointed this year (to put it lightly), it must be noted that they’ve played a fairly challenging schedule to this point, logging just 10 games at home (tied for second-fewest in the NBA) and playing only a couple of the league’s other bottom-feeders so far. It’s not really an excuse for the Clippers, who have been just as bad as their record would indicate, but more home games and contests against teams like the Kings, Pelicans, Nets, Wizards, and Pacers should help them rack up at least some victories as we get into the heart of the NBA season.

Bench Please: The Clippers have been bad across the board, but they’ve gotten nothing from their bench in far too many games this year. Unfortunately, with Beal and DJJ out, Bogi in and out, and Chris Paul and Brook Lopez completely ineffective, five of the Clippers’ top six projected rotation players have provided limited to no impact. That’s been devastating in and of itself, and has also pushed Kobe Sanders, Kobe Brown, and Cam Christie into the rotation. The young guys have had some promising flashes but ultimately have not been reliable. A really strong bench showing is just what the Clippers need to get back in the win column. Could it be Bogi? Jordan Miller? Sanders? We just have to hope someone in the reserve unit comes through with a big performance.

Clippers vs Grizzlies Preview: Finally Back Home
Robert Flom

The Clippers have had a nice rest, but their road to turning their season around doesn’t get any easier against the bruising and tough Rockets.

Game Information

Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

When: 5:00 PM PT

How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: James Harden – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – John Collins – Ivica Zubac

Rockets: Amen Thompson – Josh Okogie – Kevin Durant – Jabari Smith Jr. – Alperen Sengun

Injuries

Clippers: Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

Rockets: Fred VanVleet Out (Knee), Tari Eason Out (Oblique), Dorian Finney-Smith Out (Ankle)

The Big Picture

The Clippers have had four full days off since their last game, and need every bit of it. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jordan Miller are now healthy, meaning that Derrick Jones Jr. is the only player the Clippers are still waiting on. The time off also means the Clippers have had time to practice, and boy do they need it. Their last three games have been at least semi-encouraging, but not getting a win in either the Grizzlies or Timberwolves games hurts when the Clippers are already so far behind in the standings. Maybe this long break can revitalize the Clippers season, but it’s more likely that not a ton will really change going forward. We will just have to see.

The Antagonist

The Rockets, conversely, have had an extremely strong first quarter of the season despite dealing with the loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet before the year even began. The15-6 Rockets rank 4^th in the West in the standings, but are actually 2^nd in the entire NBA in net rating (behind only the Thunder) with the 2^nd ranked defense and 5^th ranked offense. The Rockets are a unique presence in the NBA, dominating teams in an old-fashioned style through muscle, physicality, and rebounding. They rank 1^st in offensive rebounding rate by a massive margin, getting nearly 41% of their misses, an astonishing figure. They are a miserable team to play against due to their toughness and bruising play, and have had great success so far without a ton in the way of counters.

Notes

Does the Rotation Change: The Clippers have gone through a ton of different rotations this year both due to injuries and overall lack of on-court success. After being out of the rotation for several weeks, Brook Lopez made his return against the Timberwolves, a move that made sense due to their size. Considering how big the Rockets are, Brook playing tonight feels pretty likely as well. The question is whether Ty Lue keeps his rotation at nine (Lopez, Nic Batum, Kobe Sanders, Bogdan off the bench with usual starters) or adds in Jordan Miller now that he’s healthy. I’d like to see Miller get a shot, as the Clippers need any sort of juice that they can find, and he’s at least someone who will attack and try to get downhill. Still, its possible they want Jordan to get more reps before he’s back in the rotation.

Clippers vs Rockets Preview: Another Tough Road Game
Robert Flom

We finally got an extended break between Clippers’ games, so now seemed like as good a time as any to hand out some grades. I was not kind.

Initial Starters

James Harden: B+

The Clippers talked all summer about trying to lighten the load on James Harden to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Mission failed so far. James is averaging 35.3 minutes per game, the exact same figure as last season. Moreover, due to injuries to key players and the ineffectiveness of other teammates, Harden’s usage is actually up, from 29.6 to 31.3; the highest it’s been since 2020, when Harden was an MVP-level player. Harden isn’t quite that good anymore, but he’s still been astonishingly effective for the Clippers, raising his scoring from 22.8 to 26.8 points per game while boosting his efficiency from a 58.2% True Shooting to 62.9%. He’s somehow even trimmed his turnovers slightly (though his assists have also taken a small hit). The reason Harden isn’t at an A+ is because his defense has been truly nightmarish. Unlike everyone else on the team though, it’s tougher to blame him considering the load he carries on offense. Harden being this good at age 36 is remarkable, and it’s the only thing keeping the Clippers from being unwatchable.

Bradley Beal: F

Beal played a measly six games for the Clippers before being ruled out for the season with a fractured hip. Even in the games he did play, Beal was entirely ineffectual, averaging 8.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20.2 minutes while scoring the ball at a highly inefficient rate and playing bad defense. You could see why the Clippers wanted Beal – he’s a more sure ballhandler and playmaker than Norm Powell – but he never looked healthy in his limited time and the team trying to feature him did not work. He will be back next season, presumably, as he has a player option that he will most likely pick up, and it will be hard for his 2027 to be worse than his 2026. You can’t blame Beal for his injuries, but that doesn’t make his season any less of a disaster for the team.

Derrick Jones Jr.: B

DJJ has missed the Clippers’ past 10 games with a knee injury, and the team has missed him greatly. While not having an outstanding season, Derrick is one of the few Clippers that didn’t actually underperform to start the season, putting up nearly identical numbers to last season. His defense was maybe slightly worse than 2025, like so many of his teammates, but it was still at least solid, and he provided his usual energy, above-the-rim offense, and fine-enough three-point shooting. The Clippers getting DJJ back and healthy is a huge step in their getting their defense back on track as well as just adding more pep in general.

Kawhi Leonard: C+

Kawhi is an interesting test case for these grades. His scoring is up pretty significantly from last season (25.4 points compared to 21.5), his efficiency is up somewhat, and his rebounding and assists are at a similar level. That would seem as though he should get a pretty solid grade. Well, I’d disagree with those raw numbers being a good reflection of Kawhi’s impact. First of all, his defense is worse than last season, when it was already significantly worse than it had been earlier in his Clippers tenure. Kawhi has been downright bad on that end in a number of games this year, and considering expectations are for him to be a real plus on that side of the court, that’s a big negative. Second, while Kawhi has only missed nine games, those nine were when the team truly fell off a cliff, and even though injuries aren’t the fault of players, they still matter when assigning grades. Finally, his minutes restrictions have been as frustrating as ever, with multiple games swinging in the balance when Kawhi had to check out due to an inability to play more. Now, all of that is basically saying Kawhi is too good for the Clippers to be without him – shouldn’t that result in a good grade? Considering how bad the team has been, the team’s best player not being available enough, and not being strong enough on the side of the ball they are losing games on, means it’s difficult to give Kawhi anything much above a “just passing” grade.

Ivica Zubac: C-

This one might confuse people. Let me explain. Zu is averaging the same number of minutes (32.8) and shot attempts (11.8) as last season. He has played in every game, like the trooper that he is. His scoring 15.9 is only slightly lower than his mark last season (16.8), and the same goes for his rebounding (11.6 to 12.6), assists (2.6 to 2.7), and blocks (0.9 to 1.1), while his shooting splits are only a bit worse (59.9% from field to 62.8). Those slight decreases across the board are one thing, but the fall-off in defense is what earns Zu a “disappointing” grade here, as I think more than any other individual player, Zu going from an All-Defense monster on that end last year to a decent at best defender this year (stats and eye test back this up) is a primary culprit in the team’s slide on that end. Nearly everyone on the team is worse on defense compared to last year, but Zu’s dip is larger in scale and also more impactful because of the position he plays. He’s still been good this year, but not close to the near All-Star level guy he was last year.

The Bench

Chris Paul: F

It’s hard to give CP3 anything other than an F, even without the locker room drama that resulted in him being sent home last week for good and basically dismissed from the team. Chris just did not have it, averaging a mere 2.9 points per game while shooting 32.1% from the field and 33.3% from three while never getting to the line (2 total attempts). There were flashes of his usefulness as a playmaker (3.3 assists to 1 turnover per game) and as a defender (0.7 steals, generally smart rotations), but like so many other Clippers he just looked old and slow most of the time. A sad end to a great career and the best Clipper of all time.

Kris Dunn: C+

A lot of people have been really down on Kris this year, and I get it. His defense is nowhere close to as good as it was last season, when he was one of the very best perimeter defenders in the entire NBA. This year, his defense has more just been in the “good” range, and that slippage is a big part of why the Clippers’ defense is not what it was last year. However, it must be said that Dunn’s offense has actually been better than last season by a real margin – he’s scoring more per game and doing so at a much higher efficiency due to better two-point percentages and higher free throw rate. There is also the fact that even though Dunn is overexposed as a high-minutes starter, that’s not his fault. He’s been pushed into the starting lineup due to injuries to Beal, DJJ, and Bogi, and has performed about as one would expect. At the very least, effort and energy is usually not a question with Dunn, and that earns at least minimal brownie points.

Bogdan Bogdanovic: C-

In some ways, I think Bogi kind of sums up the Clippers’ season. He hasn’t played much (just 10 of 23 games) and hasn’t been awful so much as ineffectual. His playmaking (3.2 assists, third-highest on the team and second to Harden if you exclude the departed CP3) is a bonus, and he’s had stretches of useful shotmaking. But the defense, shooting (33.3% from three on 5.1 attempts), and overall scoring (9.2 points per game) have just not been good enough, especially considering Beal’s absence. If the Clippers are to have any hope of turning their season around, they need Bogi to stay healthy and be an impactful force on offense.

Nic Batum: B-

Nico hasn’t been great, but he hasn’t been one of the problems on this team, and thus he gets one of the higher marks. His defense has still been mostly competent (his slow feet do not help on a team that’s so old, but he knows where to be, makes the right rotations, and is strong) and he’s made threes at a pretty solid clip (37.6%). Nico doesn’t offer anything else at this stage of his career, but for the Clippers’ 9^th man base 3 and D competence is fine enough. Nico is no longer the solution, as he was a few years ago, but he’s not one of the guys whose play is draining the team.

John Collins: D

The Collins for Norm Powell swap, however understandable it may have been considering Norm’s desire for a contract extension and his poor play in the playoffs, currently looks like a disaster for this year’s team. Collins has been quite bad for the Clippers, offering almost nothing outside of scoring – and even his scoring (12.2 points) is way down from his mark last season (19). His rebounding has been abysmal, the defense has been worse, and the lack of creation outside of the easiest mismatch post-ups has been tough to watch. The energy and effort is there with Collins, and there have been a few games where he’s at least given the Clippers a good scoring punch, but there’s no denying how disappointing he’s been. He avoids an F due to his availability, effort, and a few bright spots, yet he might be the guy on this list I was the most wrong about.

Brook Lopez: F

There are other players whose performances have been more negatively impactful on the Clippers’ season, but if I was ranking personal disappointments, Brook would top the list. I was so excited for Brook, as despite his age he seemed like a lock to be the first competent backup center the Clippers have had behind Ivica Zubac since Isaiah Hartenstein in 2022. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Brook has made threes at a decent rate, but that is the only thing he’s done well. He can’t rebound, he can’t move on defense, and his shooting doesn’t even space the floor much since opponents usually guard him with smaller players anyway. He’s been a true negative on both sides of the ball in a way I just was not expecting, and it’s been a real reason the Clippers have disappointed so badly. We all know the impact that bad backup centers can have on teams, and even in limited minutes Brook has reached that demarcation.

The Deep Bench

Kobe Sanders: A-

It’s been so long that the Clippers have had a decent rookie that I think people are a little overhyped on Sanders, whose raw numbers aren’t great and whose advanced stats are pretty awful. That bit of a cold shower out of the way, Sanders has nevertheless been one of the only bright spots in a miserable season. The second-round rookie is averaging 6.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 19.9 minutes per game, and while that production isn’t insane, it’s not at all bad considering that there were no expectations for Sanders to be a rotation player entering the season. Sanders is hitting threes at an ok clip (34.8%) while taking a few per game (2.9) and his on-ball defense has been mostly fine. The off-ball and rotation defense is still quite bad, but that’s true of most rookies. Even if the upside is fairly limited considering Kobe is already 23.5 years old, he’s had an impressive rookie season and looks like a real NBA player. That’s a win.

Cam Christie: B-

Cam has played 184 minutes so far this season, more than three times what he played in the NBA last year (59 minutes). He hasn’t been great, but his point of attack defense has looked solid, and he’s gotten to the line at a really impressive rate (albeit in obviously limited minutes). It’s not like he’s really contributed to wins, but he hasn’t looked awful, and for a 20-year old that barely played as a rookie, that’s enough to get a passing grade.

Jordan Miller: Incomplete

Jordan has played in fewer games than any other player on the Clippers roster (yes, fewer than Jahmyl Telfort or Brad Beal), and as such, giving a grade is tough. This is different than Beal, who was supposed to play a major role. Miller being limited in games due to injuries is much less an indictment of the roster construction and less important to the team.

Kobe Brown: C+

Has Kobe Brown been good? Not particularly. But considering he was not expected to play in the rotation at all this year, his minutes have been *fine* given the expectations. He’s actually averaging career highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, and scoring efficiency, and his minutes haven’t been particularly more negatively impactful than most other players on the Clippers. It was a low bar, to be sure, but Kobe has exceeded my expectations for the year at least a bit, hence the slightly above average grade. The defense and three-point shooting are still bad, but he’s effective in transition and adds at least some connective elements on offense.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser: Incomplete

Yanic has played only 57 minutes, and nearly all of them in garbage time. It’s impossible to give him a grade for the season to this point.

Player Grades on the 2025-2026 Clippers at the Quarter-Mark
Robert Flom