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LA Clippers aim to get back atop the West with win over Miami Heat

By Garrett Chorpenning

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 03: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 3, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 03: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 3, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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After dropping a tight contest in Memphis, the LA Clippers return home with a chance to get back atop the Western standings against the Miami Heat.

On Wednesday night, the LA Clippers had what was easily their worst offensive showing of the season against a gritty Memphis Grizzlies defense. Los Angeles managed just 86 points, a far cry from the 116 they’ve been averaging the rest of the season. After dropping that contest, they’ll look to get back on track during a one-game home stand against the Miami Heat.

Miami has struggled with plenty of injuries this season, as only three of their players have appeared in all 24 games. That trend will continue tonight against the Clippers — Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, the team’s starting point guard and center, are both out tonight. Therefore, expect Miami’s starting rotation to feature three shooting guards — Josh Richardson, Wayne Ellington, and Rodney McGruder — as well as second-year big Bam Adebayo.

The Heat aren’t a spectacular team by any stretch of the word. Their 107.7 points per game rank 23rd in the NBA, and although their scoring defense is a top-10 unit, it won’t be as complete without Whiteside in the mix.

Miami is also coming off a victory last night in Phoenix, so fatigue should set in fairly early for a team playing in its second game of a back-to-back, especially so far from home.

Despite the Heat being a bit lackluster, the Clippers still need to prepare like they would for any other opponent. This LA squad is yet to lose consecutive games this season, and has been nearly unstoppable at home. Their 9-1 record on their floor is the best in the Western Conference, and falls only behind Philadelphia’s 13-1 home record for the best in the league.

Expect Tobias Harris to have an impressive bounce-back performance after scoring a season-low seven points in Memphis on Wednesday. It was the first time he had been held to single-digits all season, a performance that came on the heels of a 27-point night against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Danilo Gallinari and Montrezl Harrell are two other players that didn’t quite look themselves on Wednesday. Gallinari shot 50 percent from the stripe on eight attempts, a monumental oddity, and Harrell’s eight points off the bench were the fewest he’d scored in a game since November 1.

Assuming the Clippers come into tonight with the right mindset, a double-digit victory certainly seems within range. It just can’t have another poor shooting performance like Wednesday night’s.

With a win tonight, the LA Clippers could also get back atop the Western Conference standings, so long as the Denver Nuggets lose in their matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.

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The LA Clippers will tip-off with the Miami Heat at 7:30 PM PST. The Clippers are favored by nine points, per ESPN.

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