On Wednesday night, the LA Clippers could get a chance to improve their playoff position when they host the Utah Jazz, who will be resting their stars.
The LA Clippers will host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night to cap off what’s been one of the more surprising regular seasons in franchise history.
Originally anticipated to win roughly 30 games this season, the Clippers were able to clinch a playoff spot with just over two weeks left on their schedule — with a much different roster than they started the season with.
When the Clippers tipped off their 2018-2019 campaign, forward Tobias Harris was the face of the franchise, rookie point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was coming off the bench and Luc Mbah a Moute was actually playing in games — all things that seem crazy to think about now.
Perhaps most importantly, though, was the fact that the Clippers were once again considered to be the lesser team in Los Angeles. And there was good reason to believe that, since the Los Angeles Lakers had just added LeBron James, arguably the greatest basketball player the world has ever seen.
Now here we are, on the final night of the regular season, and the Clippers are playing for a chance to strengthen their playoff position and get a more favorable first round matchup.
Unfortunately, that’s still easier said than done. The Clippers don’t control their own destiny when it comes to getting a higher seed, meaning they’ll need to rely on the outcomes of a few other games before they find out who they’ll be matched up with in the first round.
Before that, though, they’ll need to take care of business in their own game tonight against the Utah Jazz. And luckily for the Clippers, they won’t be seeing the same Jazz team that has already won 50 games this season.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune‘s Andy Larsen, the Jazz will be without Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Kyle Korver, Derrick Favors, Dante Exum, Raul Neto and Ricky Rubio tonight. Joe Ingles will be Utah’s only regular starter that will play.
On LA’s end, Danilo Gallinari, Patrick Beverley and JaMychal Green will all return to action after missing a varied number of games.
In order to avoid a first round meeting with the Golden State Warriors, the Clippers will need to beat the Jazz and get some help from the Dallas Mavericks or the Milwaukee Bucks. If Dallas beats San Antonio, the Clippers will get the seventh seed. But if the Spurs win, the Clippers will need the Thunder to lose to the Bucks (another team resting its stars) in order to get the seven. If the Clippers win and neither of the other scenarios happen, LA will be locked into the eighth seed. And if the Clippers lose, they’ll be the eight regardless of what happens to the other teams.
It’s confusing, we know — just root for the Clippers to take care of business, because that’s all the control they have in the race.
The LA Clippers and Utah Jazz will take the floor tonight at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET in what will serve as longtime broadcaster Ralph Lawler’s final regular season game.