The Los Angeles Clippers hope to have something resembling a fully operational roster when they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
Los Angeles Clippers
Recent Performance: The Clippers, amid a busy schedule, were missing four starters on Wednesday yet remained competitive in a 117-113 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. Kawhi Leonard (rest), James Harden (groin), Norman Powell (back), and Ivica Zubac (eye) were all out, along with Nicolas Batum (finger) and Kris Dunn (knee). Despite these absences, the Clippers led by five points in the third quarter and managed to send the game into overtime, capitalizing on Celtics turnovers in the final moments of regulation.
Injury Report:
- Kawhi Leonard: Expected to return after sitting out the past two games due to knee soreness.
- Ivica Zubac: Missed the past two games after being poked in the eye and may miss a third.
- James Harden: Out with a groin injury.
- Norman Powell: Out with a back injury.
- Nicolas Batum: Out with a finger injury.
- Kris Dunn: Out with a knee injury.
Key Players:
- Derrick Jones Jr.: Led the Clippers with 29 points against the Celtics.
- Kevin Porter Jr.: Contributed 26 points.
- Amir Coffey: Added 24 points.
- Mo Bamba: Made his second start of the season.
The Clippers struggled with 23 turnovers, leading to 25 points for the Celtics.
Washington Wizards
Recent Performance: The Wizards are currently on an 11-game losing streak and coming off a 111-88 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. With consecutive 23-point losses, the Wizards are at the midway point of a six-game road trip against Western Conference teams.
Key Players:
- Bilal Coulibaly: Led the Wizards with 17 points against the Lakers.
- Jordan Poole: Scored 15 points and leads the team with an average of 21.4 points per game.
- Corey Kispert: Also added 15 points.
- Alex Sarr: The 7-foot rookie center recorded a career-best five blocked shots against the Lakers.
Supporting Player:
- Jonas Valanciunas: Averages a team-best 8.2 rebounds, mostly off the bench.
- Alex Sarr: Contributes 6.7 rebounds and 11.6 points per game.
This matchup sees the Clippers aiming to overcome their injury woes and regain their competitive edge, while the Wizards seek to break their losing streak and find some success on their road trip. Both teams have much at stake, making this game an intriguing contest.
