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LA Clippers must be cautious against streaking Cavaliers

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 19, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on March 19, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers will begin a four-game road trip on Friday night against Collin Sexton and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve won seven of their last 14.

Since the All-Star break came to a close, the LA Clippers have been playing their best basketball of the season. The Clippers have won 11 of their last 14 games, four of which have come against current playoff teams, and their chemistry seems to be at an all-time high.

Lou Williams has been particularly effective since the break, and has seemingly locked up the Sixth Man of the Year award. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has started to find his shot and just recorded his first double-double. Danilo Gallinari has scored at least 20 points in seven consecutive games.

On paper, the Clippers completely outmatch the Cleveland Cavaliers. And on Friday night, they’ll probably steamroll the tanking squad en route to their fourth straight win.

But the Cavaliers are playing some of their best basketball as well, and this matchup has “trap game” written all over it.

Winners of two straight and seven of their last 14, the Cavaliers have looked like a different team for the last month or so. They’ve played .500 ball since the All-Star break, knocking off the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks along the way.

Rookie point guard Collin Sexton has been a big reason for their improved play. He’s scored at least 10 points in 13 of Cleveland’s last 14 games, and at least 20 points in nine of those same 14. On top of that, Sexton has connected on nearly 47 percent of his three-pointers attempted since the break — a substantial increase from his 39 percent clip prior to.

Over that same period of time, Kevin Love seems to have returned to form as well. He’s averaged 18.6 points and 11.4 rebounds in less than 28 minutes per game since the break, returning from surgery in the process.

With a win, the Clippers could finish the night as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, depending on what happens with the other games on Friday night. If the Oklahoma City Thunder drop their game against the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs lose theirs against the Houston Rockets (both are road games), then the Clippers would take sole possession of the fifth seed — with a half game lead over the Utah Jazz.

dark. Next. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing best ball in March

The LA Clippers will face off with the Cleveland Cavaliers at 4:30 PM PT on Fox Sports Prime Ticket.

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