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The Clippers have only three games remaining this season. And as I said in the title of this article, as long as they stay healthy I’ll be happy.
Game Information
When: Thursday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m. PT
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
How to watch/listen: Bally Sports SoCal
Opposing perspective: At the hive
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers (46-23): Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr.
Hornets (33-36): Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball, PJ Washington, Jalen McDaniels, Bismack Biyombo
Injuries/Absences
Clippers: Serge Ibaka (back), Amir Coffey (health & safety protocols) — OUT
Hornets: Caleb Martin (dislocated left thumb) — QUESTIONABLE, Gordon Hayward (foot), Miles Bridges (COVID-19 protocols), Cody Martin (ankle) — OUT
With three games remaining, the Clippers control their fate. They currently sit at No. 3 in the standings, and that’s where they’ll likely finish. Denver trails them by one game, and they hold the tiebreaker if the teams were to finish with the same record.
The Clippers do trail the Suns by two games for the No. 2 seed, so if LA can win out and Phoenix goes 1-2 to close the season, the Clippers will finish as the second seed. At this point, though, I’m not too worried about where LA finishes in the seeding, whether it’s second, third or fourth.
Just please, stay healthy.
This will be the second time this season that these teams will face each other. The Clips got the best of Charlotte in the first matchup, as they defeated them by 27. The Clippers scored 125 points, but the leading scorer on LA was Paul George with only 21 points. Seven different players scored in double figures for the Clippers, as it was one of the best all-around team efforts of the season.
The Hornets have a lot of pieces out tonight, and they’ve already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament. However, a lot can still happen for them. They are tied for the 8th/9th spot, meaning a loss can have them potentially in the one-game elimination game. If they can win, they’ll have a chance to finish 7th, giving them two games to get into the playoffs.