LA Clippers @ Charlotte Hornets Game Preview

Game Preview LA Clippers @ Charlotte Hornets

Injury Report

Hornets: OUT Ball (L Ankle Sprain), Hayward (L Scapula Fracture), Martin (L Knee procedure), Smith Jr (L Ankle Sprain), M Williams (L Ankle Sprain)

LA Clippers: OUT: Norm Powell (Groin) QUESTIONABLE: Kawhi Leonard (Ankle), Paul George (Hamstring), Luke Kennard (Calf)

Game Preview

Charlotte are 3-2 over their last five games but come into this game after a disappointing home loss to an undermanned Bucks team. Their next test is an interesting one, this season's Clippers rank 5th in defense but  just 29th in offense and are 2-3 over their last five games. All Star Kawhi Leonard has been struggling upon his return from ACL surgery and Paul George hasn't played since the 20th of November due to a hamstring injury. If George does play (Questionable) the Clippers are unsurprisingly a much better team, with him having a whopping +13.2 net rating when on the court. 

Key Match-up: Ivica Zubac vs Mason Plumlee/Nick Richards

Zubac is playing the best basketball of his career, he's just over a week out after putting up a career high 31 points and 29 rebounds with 3 blocks  against the Indiana Pacers. We have just seen DPOY favorite Brook Lopez cause Charlotte issues inside, will Richards and Plumlee be able to keep Zubac from being a factor?

Predicted Starting Fives

Position

Charlotte Hornets

LA Clippers

PG

Terry Rozier

Reggie Jackson

SG

Kelly Oubre

Tre Mann

SF

Jalen McDaniels

Amir Coffey

PF

PJ Washington

Marcus Morris Sr

C

Mason Plumlee

Ivica Zubac

You can follow us for future coverage by liking us on social media:

Facebook - All Hornets

Twitter - @SI_Hornets and James Plowright


Published
James Plowright
JAMES PLOWRIGHT

Twitter: @British_Buzz Linked In: James Plowright Muck Rack: James Plowright About Me Bylines for: Sports Illustrated, Sky Sports NBA, SB Nation, Queen City Hoops Based in Manchester in the United Kingdom, I have covered the Charlotte Hornets since 2008. When I was 16 years old I won a blogging competition on Bobcats.com, this ignited my passion for journalism and since then I went on to write for a variety of blogs; Hornets Planet, Queen City Hoops and At The Hive. In 2022 I took on the role as site content manager for the Charlotte Hornets Fannation site (AllHornets.com).  I am also the founder of the All Hornets Podcast Network, having recorded over 350+ Hornets related podcasts.  Awards - The All Hornets podcast was nominated for "Best Team Podcast" in the 2022 Sports Podcast Awards.  - I was nominated for "Sports Writer of the Year" in 2013 for LSU Media while studying my B.A in History and International Relations at Loughborough University.