On a six-game home winning streak, the Los Angeles Clippers are set to welcome the Sacramento Kings to their new arena in Inglewood, California, as they resume NBA Cup group play on Friday.
Both the Clippers and Kings are 0-1 in West Group A play. After a rough 0-4 start in their $2 billion arena, which James Harden once hinted might be “cursed,” the Clippers have turned things around at home.
Their latest victory was a 104-93 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, despite missing their leading scorer, Norman Powell, due to hamstring discomfort. Powell, who averages 23.3 points per game, will also miss Friday’s game.
Even without Powell, the Clippers managed to end the Magic’s six-game winning streak and became the first team in two weeks to score more than 100 points against Orlando.
However, the Clippers had issues with turnovers, giving up 25 points off 25 turnovers. Harden scored 24 points but committed five turnovers, as did fellow starter Kris Dunn.
The Kings come into Friday’s game off a 109-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at home on Monday. Keon Ellis scored a career-high 33 points, hitting nine three-pointers in 15 attempts. De’Aaron Fox added 28 points, but the Kings were missing DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis (both with back injuries), and Malik Monk (ankle).
Since November 8, Sacramento has a 3-4 record, starting with a 107-98 home loss to the Clippers. This was one of only two games this season where the Kings failed to score 100 points.
Fox leads Sacramento with 28.8 points per game, while Sabonis leads in rebounds (12.5) and assists (6.6), averaging 20.2 points. DeRozan is scoring 22.9 points in his first season with the Kings.
Sabonis and DeRozan participated fully in practice on Wednesday and Thursday and are expected to play against the Clippers. Monk is expected to miss his sixth consecutive game.
The Clippers will have to find a different path to victory against the Kings, as Powell led them with 31 points and 12 rebounds in their earlier matchup this month. Fox led the Kings with 31 points in that game.
