Clippers vs. Nets preview and game thread: LA aim to even score against Brooklyn

The LA Clippers are coming off a strong win over the league-leading Utah Jazz on Friday, and now they have another big game on tap, as they’ll host the Brooklyn Nets Sunday evening at Staples Center.

Game Information:

When: Sunday, Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. PT

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

How to watch/listen: Fox Sports Prime Ticket, ESPN, AM 570 Radio

Opposing perspective: Nets Daily

Projected Starting Lineups:

Clippers (22-9): Patrick Beverley, Paul George, Serge Ibaka, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum

Nets (19-12): Bruce Brown, Joe Harris, Jeff Green, Kyrie Irving, James Harden

Injuries:

Clippers: None

Nets: Kevin Durant (hamstring), Iman Shumpert (hamstring) — OUT; Tyler Johnson (groin), Nicolas Claxton (knee) — QUESTIONABLE

The Clippers welcomed back Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Nicolas Batum and Luke Kennard and what a difference a game made, as LA flipped their disappointing loss against the Jazz on Wednesday with a good, if tight, victory against Utah Friday. With the injury report clear for Sunday’s game, expect the big guns to be available and up for the big game.

They’ll be facing a Nets side that is hobbled a bit themselves, with Kevin Durant missing four straight games with a hamstring strain, including this clash. In spite of that, the Nets are on a roll lately, winning five in a row, and they may be based in the wrong place this season; So far this season, they’re a perfect 6-0 against Pacific Division teams. I was going to say their record is a somewhat middling 19-12, but it turns out that’s good for 2nd place in the Eastern Conference right now, so they’re doing just fine.

These teams have played once this season, and not too long ago, the Nets topping the Clippers 124-120 on Feb. 2 at Barclays Center. That was a good heavyweight bout, Kyrie Irving scoring 39 points and all of both teams’ stars available. With one matchup under their belts and LA’s top group intact for this game, can they even up the season series, or will Brooklyn stay perfect against the best coast? This is going to be a fun game.