The Los Angeles Clippers have finally found a decent working system to move ahead with into the season. After a strong nine-game win streak, the Clippers are coming off two consecutive losses. James Harden and his teammates are determined to regain momentum. However, injuries have been a major ailment. They rank sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 17 wins and 12 losses.
JAMES HARDEN IS LOSING HIS MIND 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H3Z2vUNKEf
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 19, 2023
They will be going up against the Charlotte Hornets, a team having a significantly poor season yet again. The Hornets do not have much star power on the roster, unlike the Clippers. Most of their players are all budding talents and they will have to make changes quickly. The Hornets rank 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 7 wins and 20 losses. They will be hosted by the Clippers at the Crypto.com Arena tonight.
James Harden is available to start for the Clippers vs. Hornets game
Luckily, James Harden will play for the Clippers while they are short of a superstar. Kawhi Leonard is currently listed as questionable due to a hip injury he sustained some time ago. Moussa Diabate will remain out as he suffers from a hip injury as well. Mason Plumlee has been making great progress so far. Joshua Primo hasn’t been cleared to make his debut as yet.
Interestingly, the Hornets are going to work without any major or minor injuries during tonight’s game. This will be a perfect opportunity for the team to truly work on their style of play and form. However, dealing with a well-seasoned team like the Clippers will be challenging.
The block, the dish, the BOOM 🤌#LetsFly x @brandmillerr | @drpepper pic.twitter.com/N4CXFcDBzQ
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 24, 2023
Los Angeles Clippers Injury Report:
- Moussa Diabate (Out)
- Kawhi Leonard (Questionable)
- Joshua Primo (Out)
- Mason Plumlee (Out)
Los Angeles Clippers Expected Lineup:
- James Harden
- Terance Mann
- Paul George
- Amir Coffey
- Ivica Zubau
Charlotte Hornets Injury Report:
NIL
Charlotte Hornets Expected Lineup:
- Terry Rozier
- Bryce McGowens
- Gordon Hayward
- Miles Bridges
- PJ Washington
Will the Hornets emerge victorious over James Harden and the Clippers?
Despite losing out on Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have all the right pieces to emerge victorious. Leonard’s absence did affect the team’s pace over the last two games. It also left a void on offense as he averaged 24.4 points per game. However, James Harden he proven that he’s still an elite scorer. He will have to step up in Leonard’s place and help bring a balance to the team alongside PG13.
Paul George is one of my favorite players. His bag is crazy
— Excuse My Chrisma (@BuzzNBasketball) December 20, 2023
Comparatively, the Hornets do not have great shooters on the team. They average 46.7% from the field but shoot only 31.2% from deep. While the Clippers currently shoot 48.5% from the field and shooting nearly 40% from the three-point arc. And the Clippers are defensively powerful, making them the favorites in this matchup.