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LA Clippers: Five remaining must-win games before the playoffs

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Staples Center on April 04, 2021 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. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at Staples Center on April 04, 2021 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. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 04: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers defends Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 04: Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers defends Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers currently sit at 34-18, good enough for third place in a very tightly contested Western Conference. With only 20 games remaining on the schedule, the team will start gearing up for the postseason.

With new additions to the roster in Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, the Clippers are still figuring out ideal rotations. They are also in the process of getting healthy with Serge Ibaka now the only name still on the team’s injury report. All those pieces will need to fall in place before the playoffs begin. Luckily, there are some perfect tests in those 20 games for them.

Here are five must-win games for the LA Clippers before the postseason.

LA Clippers Must-Win #1: April 8 versus Phoenix Suns

Tonight, April 8, presents the first of our list of must-win games. The Clippers host the Phoenix Suns who sit one spot above them in the Western Conference.

The two teams faced each other once this season, back in January in only the Clippers’ seventh game of the season. The Clippers won that outing 112-107 behind 39 points from Paul George. Notably, Kawhi Leonard had an “off” game where he only scored 15 points.

Tonight with a mostly healthy roster, the Clippers can show a strong outing and prove that they will be a legitimate threat in the postseason. This isn’t to say that Phoenix isn’t a tough matchup – they are – but the Clippers have the talent to beat them, especially as the Suns are coming in on the second night of a back-to-back after a hard-fought overtime victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

It’s usually the Clippers who are at a rest disadvantage so coming in fresh while Phoenix might have some tired legs will do wonders. A win here would build off of Tuesday’s night dominance over the Portland Trail Blazers.

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