Game Preview: Clippers v Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on
Sunday evening. The Hornets (25-33) were in desperate need of a win coming in to
Saturday afternoon’s tilt against the Sacramento Kings, as they’d dropped 12 out
of their previous 13 games. They accomplished their goal with a 99-85 victory,
which was spearheaded by Frank Kaminsky’s 23-point, 13-rebound double-double
that also included three assists and two steals. Marvin Williams followed
Kaminsky with 16 points, six rebounds, two steals and one block. Nicolas Batum
was next with 15 points, six boards, three assists, one steal and one block.
Marco Belinelli paced the bench with 13 points, six assists, two rebounds and
one steal. Kemba Walker provided 12 points, six assists, three rebounds and one
steal in a supporting role. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist couldn’t muster much on the
scoreboard with only six points but made up for it by hauling in 12 boards. The
Hornets will likely list Cody Zeller as questionable heading into Sunday with
the quad injury that has already cost him 13 games. Miles Plumlee remains out
with a calf strain. The Clippers (35-23) have drawn two tough opponents coming
out of the All-Star break and fallen short against both. Los Angeles dropped a
123-113 decision to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night and most
recently, fell to the San Antonio Spurs by a 105-97 margin on Friday. Blake
Griffin led the Clippers with 29 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one
steal. Austin Rivers headed back to the bench with the return of Chris Paul from
his thumb injury but still produced 23 points and three assists in 27 minutes.
Paul generated 17 points, six boards, five assists and two steals in his first
game back. DeAndre Jordan tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals. The
Clippers will check in to Sunday’s contest with no injuries of note. Sunday’s
game will mark the second and final meeting of the season between the two teams.
Los Angeles prevailed by a 107-102 margin on Feb. 11 in Charlotte.