It's a busy Wednesday, with 11 games on the NBA schedule. The Clippers tip off at 7:30 of course, but eight games will be completed before the Clippers even tip off.
The national TV double-header on ESPN tonight features both LA teams -- so no matter where you live and whether you have NBA League Pass or not, you can at least watch the LA teams tonight. But there are some other games that impact the Clippers as well.
Here's the schedule. All times are Pacific.
- Philadelphia at Toronto, 4:00 PM
- Utah at Charlotte, 4:00 PM
- Atlanta at Cleveland, 4:00 PM
- Phoenix at Boston, 4:30 PM
- Milwaukee at Chicago, 5:00 PM
- Houston at New Orleans, 5:00 PM
- LA Lakers at San Antonio, 5:00 PM, ESPN, Time Warner Cable Sports
- Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 5:00 PM
- Orlando at Denver, 6:00 PM
- Dallas at LA Clippers, 7:30 PM, ESPN, Prime Ticket
- Memphis at Golden State, 7:30 PM
All of the Clippers immediate rivals in the Western Conference are playing tonight.
This is the rare case where we should be rooting for the Lakers against the Spurs, since San Antonio is a threat to the Clippers for a top seed in the West. Unfortunately, again playing without Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Jordan Hill and on the second night of a back-to-back, the Lakers have essentially no chance against the Spurs.
Oklahoma City is hosting Minnesota, and while the Timberwolves managed to end Oklahoma's 12 game winning streak last month, it would be very surprising if they can pull off another upset today. The Thunder will be looking to avenge that earlier loss, and also to get back on track after losing to the Wizards Monday night. Moreover, Minnesota is without Kevin Love, so the Clippers probably can't expect a lot of help in this one either.
Memphis will play Golden State while the Clippers are taking on the Mavs. Currently battling for the 4-5 spot in the west, well behind the top three but safely ahead of the rest of the field, this game looks like a first round playoff matchup right now. Both the Grizzlies and the Warriors have a brutally tough schedule over the next couple of weeks -- we'll start to see what these teams are made of now. It should be interesting. The good news for the Clippers is that one of them has to lose.