Clippers Begin Homestand with Matchup vs. Kings

It’s good to be home.

It feels like an eternity since the Clippers have had a home game. In reality, it hasn’t even been a week. LA has been on the road for six of their last seven games. Through 32 games, 18 of them have been on the road, which is the second most in the NBA. Finally, the boys can make themselves at home. Tonight’s game will be the first of 12 consecutive games in California, with only two being on the road (they always have one “at” the Lakers.)

Last Matchup:

This is the second matchup between the two teams on the year. Exactly a month ago, the Clippers defeated the Kings in Sacramento, 97-95, thanks to a Blake Griffin game-winning fadeaway.

Blake Griffin finished the game with 33 points. Buddy Hield was the high-scorer for the Kings, as he added 27 of his own, 16 of which came in the final quarter. The Clippers found themselves down 14 at halftime, but a third quarter in which they outscored the Kings by 19, including a 17-0 run, helped them get back into the game. Their lead got as high as 10 in the fourth, but back-to-back Buddy Hield three’s would eventually tie the game at 95. That’s when Blake called game.

The Bad Guys

The Kings come into tonight’s game 11-21 on the season, and 6-13 on the road. They started the season losing eight of their first nine, but have been playing almost .500 ball since. Approaching the midway point of the season, no player has been more valuable than Zach Randolph.

Yup, you read that correctly.

Averaging 16 points and seven rebounds a game, the former Clipper has been Sacramento’s best player. In the month of December, the 16-year veteran is averaging 21 points and nine rebounds a game. Randolph has scored more than 20 five times this month, including a 35-point performance. After spending the last eight seasons with Memphis, Zach Randolph has seen a resurgence in his career.

The Good Guys

In the last preview, I said that it was going to be the start of a winning streak. Well, second time’s a charm, right? The Clippers desperately need to start winning if they have any hopes of making a playoff push. They had their best win of the season at Houston, but then followed it with a disappointing loss at Memphis. In the box score it says only a three-point loss, but the Clippers were playing from behind all game, something they absolutely cannot do against the bottom of the barrel.

Austin Rivers is playing arguably the best ball of his life. Over the last 10 games, Rivers is averaging over 21 points a game. In the last two games, Rivers has dropped 36 & 38 points, which is a new career-high for him. He’s also knocked down 11 three’s the last two games as well.

Lost in the Austin Rivers hype has been Lou Williams, who’s dropped 30 in back-to-back games as well. Williams, who has to be a shoe-in for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is having arguably the best season of is 12-year career. For the first time, Williams is averaging more than 20 points a game. In December, Williams is averaging nearly 25 points a game. Truly remarkable for a man in his twelve season, but more impressively, doing it off the bench.

Tonight’s game

Tonight’s game can be seen on Prime Ticket at 7:30 p.m. PST. The Clippers have won 20 of the last 24 match-ups with the Kings, including five of the last six.

Injury Report:

Clippers:

Blake Griffin – OUT

Patrick Beverley – OUT

Danillo Gallinari – OUT

Wesley Johnson – OUT

Kings:

De’Aaron Fox – OUT