Kawhi Leonard is near returning for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are additional away from returning to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Each groups will proceed with out key gamers after they meet Monday night time in New Orleans.
Leonard hasn’t performed this season due to knee irritation, however he returned to apply greater than every week in the past and reportedly might play as quickly as Jan. 4, although he will not be on the Clippers’ three-game journey that begins in New Orleans.
The Clippers additionally performed with out Terance Mann (finger), Kevin Porter Jr. (sickness) and Kobe Brown (again) of their most up-to-date recreation, a 102-92 residence victory towards Golden State on Friday.
Within the absence of the six-time All-Star, Los Angeles has compiled the fifth-best file within the Western Convention (tied with the crosstown Lakers). Head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned believing that they’ll win with out Leonard has been “half the battle.”
“If you step on the ground, regardless of who’s on the court docket, having that mindset that we will win video games has been our mannequin for the final 5 years or so,” Lue mentioned. “We talked about simply holding it down till Kawhi was capable of get again, and our group has been doing job of that.”
The Clippers had six double-figure scorers towards Golden State, led by 26 factors from Norman Powell, who has emerged because the workforce’s main scorer (24.2) in Leonard’s absence. Heart Ivica Zubac had his seventh straight double-double (17 factors, 11 rebounds).
They constructed a 21-point lead, watched the short-handed Warriors get inside three with 2:30 left, then held on. Los Angeles dedicated 12 of its 23 turnovers within the fourth quarter.
“It was a giant win for us nonetheless you take a look at it,” Lue mentioned. “In three days, although, I will not bear in mind how we gained. I will simply know that it was a W.”
The Pelicans could be proud of any type of win after dropping their final 9 video games and 18 of their final 19. And no return date has been set for both of the workforce’s high two gamers. Williamson has missed 26 video games and Ingram has missed 14.
New Orleans has not led in both of its final two video games — residence losses towards Memphis (132-124) on Friday and Houston (128-111) the night time earlier than.
“(Now we have to) attempt to execute from the start, play onerous from the start so we aren’t at all times taking part in out of a gap,” mentioned ahead Trey Murphy III, who led the Pelicans with a season-high 35 factors towards the Grizzlies.
Murphy is averaging a career-best 20.2 factors per recreation and he has averaged 26.2 within the final 5 video games. He’s New Orleans’ most prolific 3-point shooter, however within the absence of Williamson and Ingram he has needed to increase his scoring repertoire.
“(Towards Memphis) he performed the best approach the entire recreation,” coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned of Murphy. “When the ball got here to him, he made good performs. He was stable, he shot the duvet off the ball. He bought to the basket, he bought to the free-throw line. It is a nice alternative for Trey, and he took full benefit of it.”
–Subject Stage Media