The Los Angeles Clippers start a crucial road with four games on Wednesday when they visit New York Knicks, which plays the other night by a back-to-back.
Los Angeles (40-31) is in a Logjam in the Western conference. Only four matches separate the seventh and eighth place of Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves from third place Denver. The last seed with the home court’s advantage in the first round-which is currently occupied by the Los Angeles Lakers is separated by only three matches with Clippers.
However, as it says, the Clippers would start after the season in the play-in round. Los Angeles had a five-match winning line stopped the last time and released a nail piece of 103-101 on Sunday to NBA-leading Oklahoma City despite double doubles from both Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.
Leonard has received at least 23 points in six performances in a row, with double doubles in the last two.
Los Angeles could be without James Hardden for Wednesday’s competition. He was listed as hesitant on Tuesday after suffering a foot injury against Oklahoma City.
When asked if he has conversations with the coaching staff about sitting, Hardden said: “No, I’m playing. If I’m not ok, I’ll sit outside.”
Harden’s availability is great with their all -round contributions this season. His 22.5 points per match is just behind Norman Powell’s team high 22.7, and Harden is also an average of 8.7 assists.
At the same time, the density in the Western Race and Stakes place a high premium on Los Angeles completing 11 matches. Three of the next four are on their way to opponents currently planned during the season.
New York (45-26) is one of these teams that occupies third place in the east. Knicks opened one stretch and played three straight and five out of six at home, with fun by Washington and Dallas.
OG Anunoby got 35 points and Karl-Anthony Towns published his first triple dubble since January 2022 in Tuesday’s victory 128-113 over Mavericks.
“I’m proud to try to make my teammates look and help our team,” said Towns, who drew 11 assists to go with their 26 points and 12 returns.
The cities came into Tuesday’s competition an average of 24.5 points and 12.9 returns.
Knicks led Dallas with 26 points during the fourth quarter, giving coach Tom Thibodea an opportunity to go deep into New York’s bench in the first part of his back-to-back.
New York will look to continue its offensive success for the last two matches, including victory 122-103 over the magicians on Saturday, after struggling to score the last time it met Los Angeles.
The Clippers won the second meeting with New York this season, a decision of 105-95 on March 7 in Los Angeles. Harden had 27 points and seven assists in the victory, Leonard scored 20 points and Zubac went for 16 points and 14 returns.
That game was New York’s first of nine straight without Jalen Brunson, Knick’s season -long leading goal scorer of 26.3 points per match.
Thibodeau told reporters on Monday that Brunson made “really good progress” in healing from the ankle damage, although he emphasized that 2023-24 All-NBA guard will not be rushed back into the arrangement.
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