Rowan Kavner
TORONTO – On the one hand, the Clippers have struggled against the East’s best teams and already lost to the Raptors at home this season.
On the other, the Clippers haven’t had much of a problem on the second game of back-to-backs and have never lost three straight games since head coach Doc Rivers has taken over.
The Clippers (33-17) completed a 20-point win against the Spurs before falling late to Brooklyn and falling quickly to Cleveland, as they head to Toronto (33-17) for Friday night’s game looking to correct course.
Tipoff: 4:00pm PST
“You figure out why (Thursday night happened),” said Chris Paul. “We don’t have a lot of time to think about it. We play Toronto (Friday), and they’re not going to care about (Thursday).”
While games such as the one the Clippers just got done with in Cleveland can happen for any team through the course of the season, Paul said there’s only a couple things a team can do to ensure they don’t happen again.
“You try to go out and make shots every night and play the best defense you can,” he said.
LAST TIME OUT
Cavaliers 105, Clippers 94 – The final score may not depict it, but the Clippers got behind early and never had much of a chance in Cleveland. The Clippers let the Cavs score 94 points after just three quarters, falling behind by 23 points at halftime and watching the lead expand from there. It was a rough night as the Clippers dropped their second straight and had five techs called against them.
Nets 109, Raptors 93 – Toronto also recently went on a six-game winning streak only to find itself now having lost two straight games. Brooklyn’s guards led the way for the Nets, as Jarrett Jack and Alan Anderson combined for 46 points. The Raptors led at halftime before getting outscored by 18 in the second half.
NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP
Chris Paul vs. Kyle Lowry – The matchup has to focus on Toronto’s lone All-Star participant this year, who’s having a tremendous season. Lowry is coming off a double-double, while Paul came an assist short of a double-double as the Clippers struggled in Cleveland. Lowry scored a game-high 25 points in the first matchup between these teams in Los Angeles. With Paul talking about coming into every game with a defensive mindset, he’ll want to make sure to limit Lowry’s scoring the way his last two opponents were able to, holding the powerful point guard to fewer than 15 points.
TWO THINGS TO WATCH
Bench Play – In Patrick Patterson, Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams, the Raptors have three players off the bench capable of going off at any point. Ross had 23 points in his last game to lead Toronto, while Vasquez and Patterson both scored in double digits in their first matchup against the Clippers, whose bench looks much different this time around. If the Clippers’ bench can outscore the Raptors’ bench, it’ll especially go a long way toward victory in this one.
In The Paint – The Raptors lead the league in second chance points per game (15.3) and are the sixth best team in points in the paint per game (44.3), but they also allow the fourth most second chance points per game (14.2). Unfortunately for the Clippers, the paint is not where they dominate offensively, sitting in the bottom 10 in points in the paint and second chance points. If they’re to win in Toronto, they’ll need to demonstrate a paint presence on both ends.
NOTES: Both teams are among the top five in the league in scoring per game … Both teams are in the top four in offensive rating … Both teams are in the top 10 in 3-pointers made per game … Toronto leads the NBA with six overtime games … Both teams are 33-17 and coming off two straight losses … DeAndre Jordan had 20 rebounds and Jamal Crawford had 20 points off the bench in the last matchup against Toronto … J.J. Redick, who led the Clippers with 23 points in the last matchup, missed Thursday’s game with back spasms …
