A pair of teams intent on improving their playoff prospects in the Western Conference will meet as the Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif.
The Clippers enter the game eighth in the conference standings, while the Kings are a half-game behind in ninth.
While the Clippers are trying to get back on track after a rough run of eight road games in which they went 2-6, the Kings have found a flow with a reworked roster while going 5-1 since Feb. 24.
The Kings are coming off an emotional 127-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday in De’Aaron Fox’s return to Sacramento, after he was traded on Feb. 3 following eight seasons with his original team.
A mixed reception of boos and cheers from Kings fans was followed by Fox scoring 16 points for the Spurs, but it came on 6-of-17 shooting, including 0 of 6 from 3-point range.
Zach LaVine, who was part of the return package in the three-team trade that sent Fox to San Antonio, delivered everything Kings fans were hoping for with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, while going 7 of 11 from distance.
LaVine has averaged 23.4 points with 4.1 assists in 13 games with Sacramento and 27.0 points over the past six.
“I feel like each game you have to put pressure on yourself, especially with how tight the (playoff chase) is,” LaVine said. “We knew how important it was with (Fox) coming back to the building. I was going to be ready.”
The Kings have lost both of their games to the Clippers this season, but the teams have not met since Nov. 22. After Sunday, they meet one last time on April 11 at Sacramento during the final weekend of the regular season.
As the Kings have been on the rise, the Clippers have struggled with leading scorer Norman Powell (knee/hamstring) missing eight of the past nine games. Kawhi Leonard is still rounding into top form after not making his season debut until Jan. 4 because of knee discomfort.
James Harden has stepped up his game of late, scoring 50 points in a victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday before adding a team-best 27 in another victory over the New York Knicks on Friday. Leonard had 20 points, while Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The Clippers have won consecutive games for the first time since before the All-Star break.
“We’re telling guys, in a sense, this is gonna make or break us, because we’re playing a lot of competitive teams,” Leonard said. “… If we win these games, I think it’ll help us in the playoffs. If we don’t, we will most likely be out. So it’s just time to lock in each and every game and see what we can do.”
The Clippers’ moves at the trade deadline were far less drastic than changes made by the Kings, but one under-the-radar addition has made a mark. Bogdan Bogdanovic has started two of the past three games, delivering 23 points against the Pistons and 12 rebounds against the Knicks.
“Just trying to play smart basketball, trying to get ready for the end of the season,” Bogdanovic said. “That’s the most important part, and everybody understands that we need everybody.”
–Field Level Media
