The Los Angeles Clippers have a six-game winning line and the prospect of the home competence’s advantage to open the playoffs in a seasonal Northern California road swing starting Friday against Sacramento Kings.
Clippers (48-32) swept a five-game-homeland and culminated on Wednesday with a victory 134-117 over Houston Rockets, which rested a number of key players after already climbing the No. 2 seed in the Western conference.
Of the seven times this season, Los Angeles has received 130 or more points, four have been since March 18, including two during the last three races. And all four have occurred during the current red hot stretch that has seen the Clippers win 13 of its last 15.
The late season, Los Angeles has tied with Denver Nuggets for the fourth best record in the West through games played on Wednesday, even though they are in fifth via a tiebreaker.
Clippers is just a game behind Lakers for third place, although they do not own tiebreaker against their rival Middle City.
With Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors just a game behind, and Minnesota Timberwolves two matches back entering Thursday, Los Angeles has no margin for errors, with Clippers that closes the regular season at the Golden State on Sunday.
“Man, it’s special (to) really just to give yourself for something bigger,” said Clipper’s head coach Tyronn Lue. “Coming into this season there were no expectations on this team, for real. You look at the position, they predicted us to be 13th seeds or 12th seeds in the west.”
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Center Ivica Zubac delivered its first career triple order with 20 points, 11 returns and 10 assists. Zubac has an average of 16.7 points and 12.6 returns in 78 games played and has been on a roll late with 23 double doubles since the All-Star break.
James Harden’s 35-point, 10-Assist show on Wednesday marked Veteran’s third double double. Harden has 22.6 points and 8.7 assists, while Kawhi Leonard finds its shape with 25.8 points during his last 13 matches.
Clippers were without Norman Powell (Axel) on Wednesday, but he is expected to play this weekend.
Kings (39-41) closes his regular season with another two matches left on a three-game home tooth and wants to build speed for the Play-in round. Sacramento had a winning line with three games that were snapped on Wednesday and hit almost all the way in a loss of 124-116 to Denver Nuggets.
All five Kings starters made in double figures, led by Zach Lavine’s 27 points, but a rally for the fourth quarter, after dragging with as many as 16 points in the second half, could not completely bridge the gap.
Despite the setback, Lavine’s continued point of view has been offensively as the kings are offensively. He has an average of 33.0 points in the last four games and said he will find his rhythm after a February move to Sacramento from Chicago Bulls.
“It’s just figuring things out. It will never be perfect when you get a trade in the middle of the season. You will have some high games, some low games,” Lavine said. “We trends in the right direction at the right time. I am satisfied with that.”
Kings Backcourt from Lavine, Demar Derozan and Keon Ellis combined for 69 points on Wednesday. Derozan and Lavine set up 37 and 43 points respectively in a victory 127-117 over Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
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