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Clippers Play First Of Two Straight Games Vs. Lakers

Rowan Kavner

LOS ANGELES – A road game never looked as welcoming as the one the Clippers are about to play after being away from home the majority of the last two weeks.

While they’re technically be the visitors, the Clippers (51-26) get to return home to Los Angeles to play the Lakers (20-55) for the second game of a back-to-back Sunday after beating the Nuggets on Saturday.

Tipoff: 6:30PM PT

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“I think our favorite road game of the season is coming up tomorrow,” joked Chris Paul, who was happy to be going home.

The Clippers won each of their first two games against the Lakers this season, but no one’s thrived in the matchup as much as Blake Griffin, who led the Clippers in scoring both times. For Griffin and the Clippers, it means something to play the Lakers for a multitude of reasons, but most of their focus is on what they’re trying to accomplish in the West.

“At this point of the season, every game has to mean more than us to the other team,” Griffin said. “These two games are no exception. Doesn’t matter what seed they are or what record it is, we’ve got to come out and play. We don’t want to look back and say, ‘What if we had done this or that.’”

LAST TIME OUT

Clippers 107, Nuggets 92 – The Clippers scored 24 of the game’s first 30 points and were able to put it in cruise control, leading by double digits the rest of the way. The Nuggets made some runs, but the Clippers kept a comfortable distance throughout by holding Denver to 37.6 percent shooting. J.J. Redick and Chris Paul combined for 48 points, while DeAndre Jordan pulled down 22 rebounds.

Trail Blazers 107, Lakers 77 – Five Trail Blazers scored in double figures, led by 27 points from CJ McCollum. Damian Lillard also posted 20 points and five assists. Much like the Clippers did in Denver, the Trail Blazers jumped out to an early, holding the Lakers to just 12 points in the first quarter. They also closed strong, outscoring the Lakers, 33-14, in the fourth quarter.

NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP

Clippers’ Starters vs. Lakers’ Starters – It may seem strange to put the entire starting five for both teams on the noteworthy matchup list, but the Clippers’ starters should be able to win their matchups against their counterparts at every position. The Lakers are dealing with a variety of injuries, and they’re current starting lineup is a far cry from the one the Clippers last played in January. In the Lakers’ last game against the Trail Blazers, the only starter who also started in the last game against the Clippers was Jeremy Lin. Jordan Clarkson’s showing promise for the Lakers, but the Clippers’ starters should be able to take care of business and allow the backups to finish the job.

TWO THINGS TO WATCH

Griffin’s Game – Griffin terrorized the Lakers in each of his first two games against them this season, scoring 39 points in the first matchup and 27 in the most recent one. But it’s possible he’s more of a facilitator this time around, as he’s tended to do against sub-.500 teams recently. He’s compiled at least five assists in each of his last five games, but in the three matchups against sub-.500 teams during that time he combined for 43 points; in the two games against West playoff teams during that time, he combined for 64 points.

3-Point Line – The Clippers’ defense has stepped up recently, but if the first two games against the Lakers this season are any indication, it could be their 3-point success that puts this one away. The Clippers hit five more 3-pointers than the Lakers in their win in October and seven more 3-pointers than the Lakers in their win in January. For the season, the Clippers are averaging nearly four more made 3-pointers per game than the Lakers.

NOTES: The Clippers have won nine of their last 10 games against the Lakers and nine of their last 10 games overall … The Lakers have lost four of their last five games overall … The Clippers allow fewer than six points in the paint per game than the Lakers this season, but the Lakers managed to score more points in the paint in each of the first two games against the Clippers this season … J.J. Redick has exactly 25 points in each of his first two games this month … Chris Paul’s averaged 32 points and 13 assists in his two games this month … The Clippers and Lakers will face off again on Tuesday …