Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview
The Brooklyn Nets will be looking to snap their six-game losing streak on the road when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, California, this Sunday at 9 p.m. EST. Currently, the Nets are languishing at 12-31, placing them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, while the Clippers, at 20-24, sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Team Performance
As the Nets prepare for this matchup, their performance away from home has been particularly troubling; they possess a record of just 6-14 in road games. They have notably struggled to score in the paint, averaging merely 42.4 points per game, which is the lowest in the Eastern Conference.
On the flip side, the Clippers boast a solid home record of 12-9, though their defense allows 113.5 points per game. They have been outscored by an average of 1.2 points each game this season.
Offensive and Defensive Stats
From an offensive standpoint, Los Angeles has a shooting percentage of 47.4%, which is slightly below the 48.8% average they allow their opponents. Conversely, Brooklyn’s field goal percentage of 44.5% this season has seen them not quite matched up defensively, as the Clippers limit opponents to 47.0% shooting.
Previous Encounter
The two teams are squaring off for the second time this season; the previous encounter on January 10 resulted in a 121-105 victory for the Clippers, fueled by James Harden’s 31-point performance, while Egor Demin led the Nets with 19 points.
Key Players
Highlighting key players, James Harden is averaging an impressive 25.8 points and 8.1 assists for Los Angeles. Additionally, Kawhi Leonard has been contributing with an average of 19.3 points and 1.6 steals over the last ten games. On the other hand, Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. is putting up 25.4 points alongside 7.4 rebounds per game, with Demin averaging 2.5 three-pointers made over his last ten games.
Recent Form
In terms of recent form, the Clippers are 8-2 in their last ten outings, scoring an average of 112.2 points per game, while their opponents have scored 110.1 points on average. Meanwhile, the Nets have faced significant struggles, managing a dismal 1-9 record in their past ten games and averaging just 104.7 points, with opponents scoring 116.6 points against them.
Injury Reports
Injury reports show that the Clippers will be missing Bradley Beal for the season due to a hip injury, while Derrick Jones Jr. is out with a knee issue. Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s status remains uncertain with a hamstring concern. For the Nets, Haywood Highsmith is listed as out due to knee problems.
