Los Angeles Lakers (25-28) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (38-17)
The Lakers are slumping hard this year and everyone in the world seems to be basking in their failure. NBA fans and writers threw a hissy fit when Dwight Howard was acquired for a box of crayon and a carton of strawberry flavored milk, but now that things are going so tremendously terrible for the Lakers, people seem to be justifying it as punishment for being greedy.
Los Angeles will figure it out, but that other team in L.A. is already pretty darn good and they’ll be looking to knock the Lakers down another peg tonight. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are finally giving Clippers fans a team that’s better than the Lakers and the partying is just beginning. If you think regular NBA fans who hate the Lakers are enjoying the reversal in fortunes for L.A’s basketball community, just imagine what Clippers fans are feeling. The Lakers are running out of time to figure things out, but it’s clear the Clippers already have the upper hand and they’re going to try their hardest to keep the Lakers down on Thursday night.
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Time: 10:30pm ET/9:30pm CT
Nat’l TV: TNT
Projected Starting Lineup
| CLIPPERS (ppg) | LAKERS (ppg) | |
|---|---|---|
| PG | C. Paul 16.5 | S. Nash 12.0 |
| SG | C. Billups 9.3 | K. Bryant 27.0 |
| SF | C. Butler 10.0 | M. World Peace 13.0 |
| PF | B. Griffin 18.5 | E. Clark 8.2 |
| C | D. Jordan 9.0 | D. Howard 16.3 |
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980 (Clippers), ESPN 710 (Lakers)
Line: Thunder -3.0
Team Leaders:
Clippers | Lakers | |
|---|---|---|
| Points | B. Griffin 18.5 | K. Bryant 27.0 |
| Rebounds | B. Griffin 8.7 | D. Howard 11.9 |
| Assists | C. Paul 9.5 | S. Nash 7.4 |
| Steals | C. Paul 2.6 | M. World Peace 1.7 |
| Blocks | D. Jordan 1.3 | D. Howard 2.4 |
Injury Report: LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS — PG Chauncey Billups (PROBABLE), SF Caron Butler (PROBABLE), PF Blake Griffin (PROBABLE), PG Chris Paul (PROBABLE)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS — PF Pau Gasol (OUT)
Last Game: Lakers beat Suns 91-85, Clippers beat Rockets 106-96
Last Meeting: January 4, 2013 — Clippers 107, Lakers 102
Key Clippers Storyline: Will the Clippers improve to 3-0 against the Lakers this season?
Key Lakers Storyline: Can Kobe and company get it together on National Television and turn in a respectable performance?
Prediction: Lakers 95, Clippers 102