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LA Clippers won’t have to worry about LeBron James tonight

Ryan Snellings|
GREENWICH, CT - JULY 08: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) LeBron James attends the LeBron James Pre Decision Meet and Greet on July 8, 2010 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Proceeds from tonight's 2.5 million dollar event will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Estabrook Group)
GREENWICH, CT - JULY 08: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) LeBron James attends the LeBron James Pre Decision Meet and Greet on July 8, 2010 in Greenwich, Connecticut. Proceeds from tonight's 2.5 million dollar event will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Estabrook Group)

The LA Clippers will face the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season but the opponent will be without LeBron James.

While the LA Clippers are facing the Los Angeles Lakers for the first of four times this season, they won’t have to worry about LeBron James, who is out after injuring his left groin on Christmas Day.

James injured himself in the second half of the game versus the Warriors and was unable to return. Although an MRI the next day revealed no significant damage, the team announced that he would miss a few games.

While that timeline is extremely vague, tonight’s match-up against the Clippers is only the second game since the injury. James won’t suit up, so the Clippers will have be able to take on the Lakers without having to worry about him.

In his absence last night, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball stepped up. Kuzma scored 33 points while Ingram added 22. Ball scored 20 points and dished out 12 assists, missing the triple-double by only one rebound. Despite this effort, the Lakers did end up losing to the Kings on a game-winning buzzer beater.

Keeping those three in check will be big for the Clippers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s length should bother Ball. Kuzma and Ingram may be a little more difficult to obtain.

The other issue that may present itself for the Clippers is the Lakers ability to get out and run. The team’s youth without James on the court is apparent, but they love to run. With Ivica Zubac starting, Boban Marjanovic shouldn’t get the nod.

While Marcin Gortat isn’t much more mobile, he still can get up and down the court more than Marjanovic. Expect him to get the start, but Montrezl Harrell may end up getting the early call. Johnathan Motley may also finally get some playing time since Harrell won’t be able to match the height of Tyson Chandler off of the Lakers bench.

So while James absence will be felt, the Clippers cannot relax against the Lakers. As we have often said, every win in the Western Conference counts, so winning the first of four games would be a great way to start out the season series.