A pair of Western Convention playoff contenders will meet at completely different factors of their season-long journey when the Los Angeles Clippers face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at Inglewood, Calif.
Whereas the Grizzlies are roaring into the All-Star break, having received 11 of their previous 13 video games, the Clippers proceed to work on their id for the highway forward as star Kawhi Leonard approaches his fifteenth recreation of the season.
Leonard has elevated his taking part in time previous the 30-minute mark in every of the previous two video games as he rounds into high kind after not taking part in in any of Los Angeles’ first 34 video games due to knee soreness.
Whereas Leonard has averaged 15.7 factors, 4.6 rebounds and a couple of.6 assists this season, he managed simply 10 factors and 5 rebounds within the Clippers’ 130-110 residence victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
It was Leonard’s third lowest scoring recreation of the season, and he didn’t take a 3-point try for the primary time. He has dedicated a season excessive of 5 turnovers in every of his previous two video games.
“(It) simply was going quick, and we have performed some quick groups,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated. “They’re coming to double-team (Leonard), they’re shrinking the ground, so simply looking at our spacing and seeing once we might assault and be extra environment friendly. Numerous that’s on me.”
The Clippers did get 17 assists from James Harden on Saturday, and on Wednesday, they’re anticipated so as to add Bogdan Bogdanovic into the fold. Bogdanovic was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks on the commerce deadline. Los Angeles additionally signed Ben Simmons on Monday.
“It is future Corridor of Famers, probably the greatest (groups) within the league, and I am simply excited to have the chance to play with them and assist them in some other means that I can,” Bogdanovic stated.
The Grizzlies head to Southern California after a 119-112 highway victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
Ja Morant scored 26 factors and Desmond Bane added 20 as Memphis earned the victory one recreation after a 125-112 residence loss to the league-leading Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Saturday. The Grizzlies have received 5 of their previous six highway video games.
The Tuesday victory assured the Grizzlies will stay alone in second place within the convention by way of the break.
“I simply felt that we got here out aggressive on each ends of the ground and that is what we wish, we wish to get stops and run,” Morant stated on the TNT broadcast. “We’re even higher when everyone is aggressive and will get downhill. That was coach (Taylor Jenkins’) message, and we have been capable of execute it.”
Memphis might be out to finish a four-game dropping streak to Los Angeles, having gone 2-6 in opposition to the Clippers over the previous three seasons.
The Clippers earned a 114-110 victory over the Grizzlies on Dec. 23 at Memphis when Los Angeles main scorer Norman Powell put up 4 of his team-best 29 factors within the closing 25 seconds. The Grizzlies received 24 factors from Jaren Jackson Jr. and 23 from Morant.
Morant has averaged 22.3 factors in 13 video games in opposition to the Clippers, whereas Harden has averaged 23.1 factors in 48 video games versus the Grizzlies.
–Area Stage Media