The NBA regular season will usher in a key game todayThe Clippers will take on the Thunder on the road.
It's back-to-back games for the Clippers, who just beat the Mavericks 106-101 yesterday to make it nine wins in a row. However, Clippers star Cavuay Leonard was unable to play due to a left hip contusionIt was the first time he missed a game this season.
How much impact will Leonard's absence have on the Clippers?Will they be able to continue to perform at a high level without him?This is the question that this article will **. Leonard's injury situationLeonard is a key player for the ClippersHe has excellent contributions on both the offensive and defensive ends.
This season, he averaged 24 per game4 points, 59 rebounds, 35 assists, 15 steals and 52 percent shooting1%, 42 three-point shooting9%。He is the Clippers' leading scorer, rebounding, assists and stealsHe is also one of the most influential players in the league.
In the Clippers' nine-game winning streak, he averaged 293-pointers, shooting 61% from the field and 50% from three-point range, a very good performance. Leonard's injury came during yesterday's game when he made physical contact with Maxi Kleber of the Mavericks late in the third quarterHe didn't come back to the field after that.
After the game, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue revealed that Leonard missed the game due to a left hip contusion, and he was in daily condition, and it was unclear how serious his injury was or when he would be able to return. "We want him to be able to ** as soon as possible, but we are not risking him to play, we want to protect his health," Lu saidThis is the most important thing.
Other players for the Clippers While Leonard's absence is a big loss for the Clippers, it's not like they don't have no other players to step up to. Another Clippers star, Paul George, missed the last game due to a cold, but he will be back todayHe will be the Clippers' primary offense**.
George is averaging 22 per game this season6 points, 62 rebounds, 52 assists, 13 steals and 46 shots7%, 40 three-point shooting8%。He and Leonard are a two-gun duo for the Clippers, and they work together very wellThey are also leaders of the Clippers.
In addition to George, the Clippers have other players who could play in Leonard's absence. For example, in yesterday's game, the Clippers' bench players performed very well, scoring a total of 51 points, of which Lu Williams scored 21 points and Ivica Zubac scored 15 pointsTerence Mann scored 10 points.
They played a key role in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers turn the tide and ultimately win the game. The Clippers' bench is one of the strongest in the leagueThey can cause trouble for their opponents at any time.
The strength of the Thunder The Clippers are against the Thunder today, a young and dynamic team who have exceeded many expectations this season. They currently have a 14-13 record and are sixth in the West, and they have beaten the Lakers, Bucks, Celtics and other strong teamsshowed their potential and fighting spirit.
Their head coach, Mark Dagnor, is a new coach who is flexible in his tactics, his team plays quickly and fluidly, his players work together and his leadership skills are praised by players and **. The Thunder's key player is Shay Gilgeous-Alexander, an all-around guard who is averaging 22. per game this season8 points, 54 rebounds, 64 assists, 08 steals and 50 shooting percentage8%，Three-point shooting percentage of 387%。
He's the Thunder's leading scorer, assists and steals, and he's often taken on offense in crunch time, and he's become an All-Star caliber player. In addition to him, the Thunder have other players who can cause problems for the Clippers, such asAl Horford, Lou Dort, Dionis Barsley, George Hill and more.
The game between the Clippers and the Thunder will be a great matchup, with both sides having their own strengths and weaknesses, and the outcome of the game will be difficult. The Clippers are without Leonard, but they have George and other players to play, and their roster is still strong and their confidence is highThey have the motivation to extend their winning streak.
Although the Thunder are a young team, they are not afraid of any opponent, they have a strong sense of competition, their style of play is difficult to defend, and they have the ability to beat strong teams. All things considered, I think the Clippers have a slight upper hand, they have more experience and more quality, and they will hopefully be able to do without Kawhi LeonardWon his 10th game in a row.