A couple of Western Conference Playoff Challengers will meet on various points on their season-long trip when Los Angeles Clippers meet Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif.
While Grizzlies is arguing into the All-Star break, after winning 11 of its last 13 matches, the Clippers continue to work with his identity for the way forward as star Kawhi Leonard approaches his 15th match this season.
Leonard has increased his playing time past the 30-minute brand in each of the last two games when he rounds to top form after he has not played in any of Los Angeles’s first 34 games due to the tenderness of the knee.
While Leonard has an average of 15.7 points, 4.6 returns and 2.6 assists this season, he only managed 10 points and five returns in Clippers’ 130-110 home victory over Utah Jazz on Saturday.
It was Leonard’s third lowest score game during the season, and he didn’t take a 3-point attempt for the first time. He has committed a season height of five sales in each of his last two matches.
“(It) just went fast, and we’ve played some quick teams,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “They come to double teams (Leonard), they shrink the floor, so just look at our distance and see when we could attack and be more effective. Much of it is on me.”
Clippers received 17 assists from James Harden on Saturday, and on Wednesday they are expected to add Bogdan Bogdanovic this week. Bogdanovic was acquired from Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline. Los Angeles also signed Ben Simmons on Monday.
“It’s Future Hall of Famers, one of the best (team) in the league, and I’m just excited to have the opportunity to play with them and help them in some other way I can,” Bogdanovic said.
Grizzlies goes to Southern California after a victory of 119-112 over Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
Yes Morant scored 26 points and Desmond Bane added 20 when Memphis got the victory One game after a 125-112 home loss to the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. Grizzlies has won five of their last six road games.
Tuesday’s victory guaranteed that grizzlies will remain alone in second place in the conference through the break.
“I just felt that we came out aggressive at both ends of the floor and that’s what we want, we want to stop and run,” Morant said on the TNT broadcast. “We are even better when everyone is aggressive and becomes downhill. It was coach (Taylor Jenkins) message, and we could do it.”
Memphis will end a four-game losing line to Los Angeles, after going 2-6 against the Clippers over the past three seasons.
The Clippers got a victory 114-110 over Grizzlies on December 23 at Memphis when Los Angeles leading goal scorer Norman Powell set up four of its best 29 points in the last 25 seconds. Grizzlies got 24 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. and 23 from morant.
Morant has an average of 22.3 points in 13 matches against the Clippers, while Harden has an average of 23.1 points in 48 matches versus grizzlies.
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