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

The Clippers’ season continues to slog along, and tonight will be one of their toughest matchups on paper of the season so far against a young, athletic, and flat-out better Wolves team playing at home with a rest advantage.

Game Information

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

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

Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo – Anthony Edwards – Jaden McDaniels – Julius Randle – Rudy Gobert

Injuries

Clippers: Bogdan Bogdanovic Out (Hip), Bradley Beal Out (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. Out (Knee), Jordan Miller Questionable (Back), Chris Paul Out (Not with team)

Timberwolves: None

The Big Picture

Well, the good vibes from the road win on Wednesday night in Atlanta almost instantly evaporated. A strong first half by the Clippers in Memphis last night was followed by an abysmal second half where the Clippers scored just 40 points. They still look a bit better than they did a few weeks ago, but the offense is punchless and the defense remains slow and unaggressive. Outside of the promising play of Kobe Sanders, the best rookie the Clippers have had since Terance Mann, there just aren’t many positives, especially with Harden’s play slipping as of late. Maybe the Wolves will be caught sleeping, but the Clippers playing on the second night of a back-to-back on the road does not bode well.

The Antagonist

Despite some ugly losses in crunch time, the Wolves are having a season very in-line with their last two, ranking 6^th in the West in the standings but coming in at 7^th overall in the league in Net Rating. The Wolves boast top-10 figures on both ends, placing 7^th on offense and 10^th in defense. They are led by Anthony Edwards, who might not have made the leap to a top-five player but is firmly cemented as a perennial All-NBA level presence. He’s surrounded by players in their prime, including Naz Reid, McDaniels, DiVincenzo, and Randle, who all provide steady contributions. Rudy Gobert has slipped on defense and Mike Conley has stumbled on offense, which are two barriers towards the Wolves’ success this season at the highest levels, but the Wolves are getting just enough from the rest of the roster to maintain status as a fringe contender. At home, with a rest advantage against an old Clippers team, they might look like world beaters.

Notes

The Frustrations of John Collins: I was a big fan of the move to get John Collins from the Jazz, and he’s someone I’ve thought the Clippers should target for a while. Well, I think the team knew some things I didn’t in terms of why they didn’t go after him sooner, as it’s hard to say Collins has been anything other than a major disappointment this season. Collins is fourth on the team in scoring average behind the “Big Three” and has had some nice scoring outputs, but he’s the anti Nic Batum in that it feels like all of the little things are missing. It’s not from a lack of effort or energy, to be clear: Collins is always hustling. But for a player with his size and athleticism, he’s been a woeful rebounder this year, with a rebound% barely above Kawhi Leonard and Kobe Brown and below Cam Christie. His three-point shooting has been awry, with Collins at just over 29% on almost entirely wide-open shots. The defense has been something close to a disaster, with consistent missed rotations and botched help contributing greatly to the Clippers’ struggles on that end. When Derrick Jones Jr. returns, the obvious move to me would be to start DJJ over Collins and return to the Harden-Dunn-DJJ-Kawhi-Zu lineup that had some success last year. I think Collins will be a fine bench player for the Clippers in a more limited role, but his stint as a starter has not gone well.

Tracking Kobe’s Minutes: Kobe Sanders closed the game yesterday, and has clearly won the trust of the coaching staff. When the team is fully healthy there’s a chance Kobe falls out of the rotation, but he’s going to play a lot this year if he stays healthy. Something interesting to track is his minutes total. Kobe has currently played 304 minutes – not a lot, for most teams. But if he plays just 91 more minutes, he will top Kobe Brown’s 394 minutes played in his rookie season, and give him the most minutes for a Clippers’ rookie since Brandon Boston Jr. back in 2021-2022 (760). Terance Mann somewhat surprisingly played just 362 in the 2019-2020 season, so if Kobe clears Boston he will have played the most minutes for a Clippers’ rookie in the entire Ty Lue era of the team. That says something about Kobe, but sadly says much more about the Clippers’ drafting in the past half-decade. Kobe hasn’t even looked *that good* and is still clearly the Clippers’ best prospect since Mann. Yikes.

Clippers vs Timberwolves Preview: Another Tough Road Game
Robert Flom