LA's biggest rivalry will be held at the Intuit Dome for the very first time in NBA when the Los Angeles Clippers will tussle it out with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday Morning.
The total record of the Clippers is 23-17, and they occupy the fifth position in the Western Conference, while the Lakers are seventh, with 22-17 records.
The LA Clippers are compiling a good string of wins heading towards a fourth win on the trot after overwhelming the struggling Portland Trail Blazers 118-89 away from home in the early hours of Friday.
Norman Powell was the star of the game, scoring 23 points while grabbing five rebounds and three assists; James Harden scored 19 and dished out six assists; and Terance Mann added 14 points off the bench.
LA scored 32 points in the first quarter and pulled away to a 10-point lead and could shoot 56.4% from the floor and converted 10 of 23 three-point attempts.
Still, as it seemed with the Clippers’ offence, their defence was maybe even more outstanding, especially as the win over the Blazers was the third game in a row where the team limited the opponent to less than 100 points, and they also forced 16 turnovers.
Tyronn Lue’ team is the third-best defence in the NBA players allowing their opponents to score 106.6 points per game (84.7 in the last three games), but Cleveland offence is scoring 109.6 PPG (23rd rank).
The Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, have been playing well lately as well. On Saturday, they defeated the Brooklyn Nets 102-101 at home to record their fourth victory in five games.
A career-high 38 points on 13 of 23 shooting, including a perfect eight-from-eight from the foul line, were scored by Austin Reaves, who had an outstanding performance. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers.
LeBron James supported Reaves with 29 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds, but the Lakers bench only managed 15 points, far less than the 49 that Brooklyn's reserves scored.
Los Angeles made 12 of 34 three-point tries and shot 46.3% from the field as a team, but they faltered in the last two minutes of the game. The Nets went on a 6-0 run, but they lost by one point at the final buzzer.
Kawhi Leonard's right knee issue prevented him from playing in the victory over the Blazers, which ended a back-to-back. However, he should be able to play in this game following a three-day break.
Anthony Davis was forced to leave the Lakers' game against the Nets late because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Before this game, the big man is still labeled as questionable. If he is not cleared to play before kickoff, Jaxson Hayes will probably take his place.
P.J. Tucker is expected to be dealt, Trentyn Flowers and Cam Christie are both out since they are on G League assignments, and Terance Mann is reportedly a doubt due to a left calf injury he sustained against the Nets last week.
