Lights out! Guerilla radio! Turn that sound up! This Battle of Los Angeles doesn’t need to be hyped by Rage Against the Machine, as everyone will be excited to see the Clippers and Lakers face off on Sunday afternoon. These are the top two teams in the Western Conference standings after the Clippers big win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, and most analysts believe these teams will meet in the Western Conference Finals. They have nearly the same odds to win the NBA Finals at online sportsbooks.
This game will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on March 8, 2020, and the game will be broadcast on TNT.
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Head-To-Head Results to Date
The Clippers and Lakers have met twice this season, and the Clippers won both games. In the season opener for both teams, the Clippers topped the Lakers 112-102 behind an excellent defensive effort in the fourth quarter where the Lakers could only muster 17 points. Kawhi Leonard was superb for the Clippers with Paul George injured, going 10-19 from the floor to lead all scorers with 30 points, but the story of the game was the bench. The Clippers’ bench outscored the Lakers’ bench 60-19 as Jeff Green, Montrezl Harrell, Maurice Harkless, and Lou Williams all registered at least ten points.
Their second meeting happened on Christmas night, and the Clippers walked away with a 111-106 victory thanks to an incredible performance from Leonard. The 2019 NBA Finals MVP was 11-19 from the floor and finished with a game-high 35 points and 12 rebounds. The Lakers’ frontcourt of Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Kyle Kuzma kept them in contention throughout though with 72 points between the three.
These teams were supposed to meet for the third time this season on January 28, but that game was cancelled due to the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. It has been rescheduled to take place on Thursday, April 9.
Injury Report
The Clippers have no injuries to report headed into this game, but there are two injuries of note for the Lakers. Anthony Davis is dealing with a knee issue after exploding for 37 points and 13 rebounds against Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and Alex Caruso has been sidelined for the last two games by a sore hamstring. Both players are currently probable to play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, so the hope is that they will be able to play on Sunday night too.
Matchup to Watch
These teams both play excellent team defense, so that could lead to this game being rather low scoring once again. The Lakers are allowing the least points in the NBA, and both James and Davis have been playing well on the defensive end. Patrick Beverley, Ivica Zubac, and Kawhi Leonard have been three of the top defenders in the league, and that defense has helped the Clips reel off six straight victories to move within five games of the Lakers.
Game Preview
Davis, James, and Kuzma give the Lakers a frontcourt that most teams struggle to handle. Davis is excellent down low with his variety of low-post moves, while Kuzma has thrived in a tertiary role. LeBron is still LeBron and can take over at any time, but he has become much more of a passer this season.
Their opponents have an excellent bench thanks mainly to Williams, who is looking to win his third straight NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. This is an area where the Clippers have a big advantage, and they will be out to exploit it.
Prediction
The Clippers will have two nights to prepare for this game, while the Lakers will be in for a battle against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. That rest will be key in helping the Clips topple their big brother for the third time this season.
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