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Clippers welcome a dangerous Charlotte team to Staples Center

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: The Charlotte Hornets huddle before the game against the LA Clippers on December 31, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: The Charlotte Hornets huddle before the game against the LA Clippers on December 31, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers host a very dangerous Charlotte Hornets team tonight in the two teams’ first meeting of the 2018-19 season.

The LA Clippers, coming off of a couple easier wins, will be tested against the Charlotte Hornets tonight in Staples Center.

The Hornets, who the team is seeing for the first time, are sitting at 19-20 this season, good enough for 7th place in the Eastern Conference. However, that doesn’t necessarily do them justice.

Currently, the team sits at 8th in points per game at 113.0. In fact, if you look at the advanced stats, they actually are nearly mirror images of the Clippers in both offensive and defensive rating and effective field goal percentage.

Their main scoring option is Kemba Walker who is in the midst of a contract year. The 28-year-old guard is scoring a career-high 25.4 points on 44% shooting from the field while also dishing out a career-high 5.8 assists per game.

He has also been amazing in late game situations, leading the NBA in points in clutch situations. Should this game come down to the wire, there may be some some cause for concern. In fact, he leads the league in fourth quarter scoring with 8.6 points.

On the Clippers side, their defense has looked better over the last couple of games, but those have come against the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic. While neither team is great offensively, they gave the Clips a chance to shore up some issues on the defensive end. Tonight will be a solid litmus test to see if they have returned to the proper level.

Charlotte does employ a similar lineup to the Clips with two forwards capable of switching defensively while scoring the ball, albeit not at the same level as Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari.

Harris is coming off a 28 point outburst against Orlando and needs to continue to put up numbers in pursuit of his first All-Star Game appearance. In order to keep this game from staying close, Harris needs to come out aggressive but maintain it through the game.

Harris ranks 8th in the league in first quarter points at 7.3, but drops down to 33rd in second quarter points at 4.9, 40th in the third quarter at 5.1 and 60th in fourth quarter scoring at 4.2. Getting a full game out of Tobias could make this win come a lot easier.

Next. Clippers fully guarantee Beverley and Wallace. dark

You can tune in tonight on NBA League Pass and Fox Sports Prime Ticket at 7:30pm PST. As always, follow along with us on Twitter and check back here tomorrow for your post game coverage!

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