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Agua Caliente Clippers in a Fight for Final G-League Playoff Spot

By Seth Kimbrell

ONTARIO, CA - MARCH 9: Angel Delgado #31 of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario posts up against Justin Harper #32 of the South Bay Lakers on March 9, 2019 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
ONTARIO, CA - MARCH 9: Angel Delgado #31 of the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario posts up against Justin Harper #32 of the South Bay Lakers on March 9, 2019 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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While the LA Clippers seem to have the playoffs on lock now, the Agua Caliente Clippers are fighting to claim the final spot in the G-League playoffs.

It’s been a wild season in the NBA, and LA Clippers fans have been focusing on every single game, and how it affects the team’s chances of making the NBA playoffs, so it’s understandable that the G League playoffs might not be at the forefront of attention for some folks. But now that LAC has all but clinched their spot, it’s a perfect time to devote that same energy to the Agua Caliente Clippers.

For those unfamiliar, the G League playoffs work a little bit differently than the NBA playoffs. For starters, it’s only 12 teams instead of 16, so 6 from each conference. Division winners are guaranteed a spot; in the West, that’ll almost certainly be the Santa Cruz Warriors (the GS affiliate), the Oklahoma City Blue (the OKC affiliate) and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (the HOU affiliate).

That leaves 3 at large spots from each conference. In the West, those three are currently the Stockton Kings (SAC affiliate), the Salt Lake City Stars (UTA affiliate) and the Memphis Hustle (MEM affiliate), in that order. That said, the Agua Caliente Clippers and the Sioux Falls Skyforce (MIA affiliate) are tied at half a game behind the final spot.

The AC Clippers have had a big 3 this season of Angel Delgado, Johnathan Motley and Jerome Robinson. For the AC Clippers, Delgado is averaging 17.8 points and 14.4 rebounds per game while adding 2.6 assists, while Motley is pulling down 24 points and 10.4 rebounds, with 3 assists. Both were named to the All G-League Midseason Team this year. In January, Angel Delgado set the G-League rebounds record by snagging 31 rebounds in a win over the OKC Blue.

Jerome Robinson is scoring 20 points a game for the AC Clippers, on 44.8/47.3/78.9 shooting splits. That 47.3 3PT% is on a very nice 6.6 threes attempted per game. Robinson and Motley have seen some time on the LA roster as well, while Delgado hasn’t seen the court much in the NBA yet.

The AC Clippers’ main competition now is the Hustle, who currently occupy the 6th and final spot. While the Skyforce are currently tied with the Clippers, they’re on a 7 game losing streak and will likely fall out.

There are only 6 games left in the Agua Caliente Clippers’ schedule. 2 are against the league-best Santa Cruz Warriors, but 2 are against the Texas Legends (DAL affiliate, 3rd worst record in the G-League) and 1 is against the Northern Arizona Suns (PHO affiliate, 2nd worst record in the G-League). The final game is against the Greensboro Swarm (CHA affiliate, .500 record).

It’s definitely worth watching this as the playoff race enters the final stretch. The Clippers and Hustle figure to be battling to the wire. The G-League streams many games (including 4 of the Clippers’ last 6 games) over Facebook Live or Twitch. To see when and how to watch our favorite G-League team, check out the AC Clippers webpage

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