The Los Angeles Clippers start an important four-game highway swing on Wednesday once they go to the New York Knicks, who’re taking part in the second night time of a back-to-back.
Los Angeles (40-31) finds itself in a logjam within the Western Convention. Simply 4 video games separate the seventh- and eighth-place Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves from third-place Denver. The final seed with home-court benefit within the first spherical — presently occupied by the Los Angeles Lakers — is separated by solely three video games with the Clippers.
Because it stands now, nonetheless, the Clippers would start the postseason within the play-in spherical. Los Angeles had a five-game profitable streak stopped its final day out, dropping a 103-101 nail-biter on Sunday to NBA-leading Oklahoma Metropolis regardless of double-doubles from each Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.
Leonard has scored at the very least 23 factors in six consecutive appearances, with double-doubles within the final two.
Los Angeles could possibly be with out James Harden for Wednesday’s contest. He was listed as questionable on Tuesday after sustaining a foot damage towards Oklahoma Metropolis.
Requested if he has conversations with the teaching employees about sitting, Harden stated, “No, I am taking part in. If I am not OK, I am going to sit out.”
Harden’s availability looms massive together with his all-around contributions this season. His 22.5 factors per recreation are simply behind Norman Powell’s team-high 22.7, and Harden can be averaging 8.7 assists.
In the meantime, the tightness of the Western race and stakes place a excessive premium on Los Angeles’ closing stretch of 11 video games. Three of the upcoming 4 are on the highway towards opponents presently slated within the postseason.
New York (45-26) is a type of groups, occupying third place within the East. The Knicks opened a stretch taking part in three straight and 5 of six at dwelling, with routs of Washington and Dallas.
OG Anunoby scored 35 factors and Karl-Anthony Cities posted his first triple-double since January 2022 in Tuesday’s 128-113 win over the Mavericks.
“I pleasure myself on attempting to get my teammates attractiveness and assist our crew,” stated Cities, who dished 11 assists to go together with his 26 factors and 12 rebounds.
Cities got here into Tuesday’s contest averaging 24.5 factors and 12.9 rebounds.
The Knicks led Dallas by 26 factors within the fourth quarter, giving coach Tom Thibodeau a possibility to go deep into New York’s bench within the first leg of its back-to-back.
New York will look to proceed its offensive success of the final two video games, together with the 122-103 win over the Wizards on Saturday, after struggling to attain the final time it confronted Los Angeles.
The Clippers received the opposite assembly with New York this season, a 105-95 choice on March 7 in Los Angeles. Harden had 27 factors and 7 assists within the win, Leonard scored 20 factors, and Zubac went for 16 factors and 14 rebounds.
That recreation was New York’s first of 9 straight with out Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ season-long main scorer at 26.3 factors per recreation.
Thibodeau informed reporters on Monday that Brunson was making “actually good progress” in therapeutic from the ankle damage, although he careworn that the 2023-24 All-NBA guard won’t be rushed again into the lineup.
–Subject Degree Media