Los Angeles Clippers aiming for back-to-back victories
Watch the Clippers hosting the Blazers, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Mix from 3am on Thursday. The hosts are aiming to build on their 124-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday evening
Thursday 31 December 2020 06:08, UK
The Los Angeles Clippers are looking for second consecutive victory when they host the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples Centre, live on Sky Sports.
The Clippers were crushed 124-73 by the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in a contest in which they trailed by an NBA-record 50 points at half-time.
However, the mood is brighter heading into the Portland game after they trounced the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 124-101 on Tuesday night.
Quickly putting the franchise's worst setback out of the forefront of their memories is a good thing, according to veteran Serge Ibaka.
Live NBA: Portland @ La Clippers 30.12
"I feel last game we know we didn't play our best basketball," Ibaka said after contributing 16 points and eight rebounds against Minnesota. "We knew we had to do better and be aggressive and play team basketball."
The Clippers don't know if star Kawhi Leonard will be available to face the Trail Blazers.
Leonard missed the past two games with a mouth laceration, courtesy of Ibaka's accidental forceful elbow during a win on Friday over the Denver Nuggets. Leonard needed eight stitches to patch up the wound.
"I am not sure when he's getting the stitches out," coach Tyronn Lue said, "He, right now, just day-to-day and recovering."
The Clippers didn't miss Leonard or Marcus Morris Sr. (knee) during the easy win over the Timberwolves. Los Angeles led by 20 at half-time, a much-preferred margin than that 77-27 deficit against Dallas.
Lou Williams scored 20 points on Tuesday and was one of seven Clippers to finish in double digits.
Los Angeles connected on 16 of 31 three-point attempts against the Timberwolves, after hitting just four of 33 against the Mavericks. Another improvement is the fact that they made 32 assists against the Wolves after managing only 13 versus Dallas.
"I thought they came out with the right mindset," Lue said of his players. "We kept plugging away. We kept playing the right way."
Portland are is feeling good after notching a 115-107 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
Damian Lillard tallied 31 points for his second straight 30-point effort. He was pleased with the strong performance against the defending NBA champions.
"It makes us just a little bit more confident to be coming on the road and continuing to grow, continuing to build on our effort," Lillard said. "We're just getting more comfortable with each other, and we're bringing our energy."
Backup guard Gary Trent Jr. also provided firepower, matching his career best of seven three-pointers while scoring 28 points against the Lakers.
The stellar effort, in which Trent was ten of 14 from the field (with seven of 11 from long range), came after he played just six scoreless minutes in Portland's 128-126 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets.
"I really just got into a good rhythm, teammates finding me," Trent said of his Monday performance. "We ran certain sets and plays that got me open and give me an opportunity to shoot the ball."
Trent tweaked his calf late in the contest and is listed as questionable to play against the Clippers.
CJ McCollum shot was just seven-for-22 but contributed 20 points and 11 assists. He has scored at least 20 points in all three of Portland's games.
Carmelo Anthony missed the game against the Lakers due to the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols. He joined the team in Los Angeles on Tuesday, and coach Terry Stotts has said the veteran forward is likely to play against the Clippers.
"He's not positive (for COVID-19) or anything like that," McCollum said of Anthony. "I assume he'll be good to go."
