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Summer League Preview | Clippers vs. Lakers

Where: Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

When: Saturday, July 6, at 4:30 p.m. PT

Watch: ESPNU

Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers

Fresh off an impressive 2018-2019 campaign that included a trip to the NBA playoffs, the Clippers tip off Summer League play on Saturday, July 6 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas at 4:30 p.m. PT against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Clippers step into Thomas & Mack Center with a roster featuring overseas veterans with NBA experience, young talent straight from NCAA play and returning Clipper, Jerome Robinson.

Robinson dealt with a foot injury during his rookie season, but he appeared in 33 games, including a five-steal performance against the Indiana Pacers on February 7. Now, he is healthy and ready to make an impact this summer.

Among those to watch in Vegas include, Mfiondu Kabengele and Terance Mann, the Clippers’ 2019 draftees — taken in the first and second rounds, respectively. Fresh off a season as teammates at Florida State, Kabengele and Mann will bring a glimmer of familiarity to a typically scattered summer squad. Kabengele sees the Clippers as a team that holds similar values to his college team, comparing the team’s cohesion and grit to that of Florida State in an interview with the Clippers following the 2019 NBA Draft.

Amir Coffey may be a rookie, but the three-year starter from the University of Minnesota is no stranger to the pro game. Coffey’s father, Richard, played for the Timberwolves and in Europe while his sister, Nia, was the fifth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft.

The summer Clippers are led by Brian Adams who just completed his first year as the head coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers. He is joined by JP Clark, Natalie Nakase, Kerry Kittles, Chris Holguin, and Peter Dominguez to round out the coaching staff.

The Clippers are set to play July 6, at 4:30 p.m., July 7, at 8:30 p.m., July 9, at 8:30 p.m., and July 11, at 7:00 p.m. If they finish their first four games in the top eight, they will be seeded in a tournament which culminates with a Championship Game on July 15. If not, they will play in one consolation game.

OPPONENT OUTLOOK:

The Los Angeles Lakers’ summer squad comes into Las Vegas after finishing 2-1 at the California Classic in Sacramento. They began their Las Vegas play on Friday, July 5 where they fell to the Chicago Bulls. The Lakers’ only draft pick, Talen Horton-Tucker, missed all three games at the California Classic and is expected to miss the Las Vegas Summer League as well with a stress reaction in his foot.