HHH GameTime Preview: Heat Visit Clippers

Today at 3:30 PM ET, the Miami Heat will face off with the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. This will be the second and final game between the two this season. The Clippers defeated the Heat 102-98 on December 16th.

Miami is playing in the fourth game of a six game road trip. They lost to the Phoenix Suns, 99-90 on Tuesday, defeated the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, and dropped a 127-100 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. After tonight’s matchup, they’ll play the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday and the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday before returning home for four games.

The Clippers are starting a five-game homestand. After this one, they’ll host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, the Lakers on Saturday, the Oklahoma City Thunder next Monday, and the Minnesota Timberwolves next Thursday.

The last time the Heat faced the Clippers was on December 16th. The Clippers won 02-98, led by 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists by Blake Griffin. Chris Paul had 17 with six helpers and five boards, JJ Redick scored 17, and DeAndre Jordan scored 12 with 19 rebounds. Goran Dragic led the Heat with 21 points, 11 assists and six rebounds, Justise Winslow had 15 with four boards, and James Johnson pitched in with 12 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of helpers.

We lost this game in the first half. - Dragic

In Miami’s last game, a 127-100 setback to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Willie Reed led the Heat with 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, and James Johnson scored 20 with five boards. The Lakers were led by 24 off the bench from Lou Williams. Luol Deng had 19 points and 14 boards, D’Angelo Russell had 19 with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals, and Brandon Ingram scored 17 points with six rebounds and four helpers.

A couple of players pushing each other. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. You never want a fight to happen, but whatever, keep the game moving and let’s go. - Lakers coach Luke Walton, on the fight which led to Goran Dragic’s ejection.

In L.A.’s last game, on Friday against the Sacramento Kings, the Clippers filed a 106-98 victory. Austin Rivers scored 24 with six rebounds, DeAndre Jordan had 20 on nine-of-10 shooting with nine boards, and Chris Paul scored 14 with a dozen rebounds. The Kings were paced by 25 points, 11 boards, seven assists, three steals and two blocks from DeMarcus Cousins. Darren Collison scored 20 with five rebounds, Rudy Gay scored 18 with seven, and Ty Lawson pitched in with 17, six assists, and four rebounds.

We have been able to finish games when they are close in the fourth quarter. We’ve proven we can be a high-level team. We just have to do it consistently. - Redick

All-Time Head-to-Head: Miami’s 33-23 record against the Clippers is their second best against a Western Conference team, at .589.

GameTime: 3:30 PM ET

Standings

Miami Heat: 11-27, .289, 10.5 games behind Atlanta for the Southeast Division lead. On pace for 24-58. Fifth in the Southeast Division, 13th in the Eastern Conference, 28th in the NBA.

Los Angeles Clippers: 25-14, .641, seven games behind Golden State for Pacific Division lead. 53-29. Second in the Pacific Division, fourth in the Western Conference, sixth in the NBA.

Injuries

Miami Heat: Chris Bosh is out with the blood clot problem. Josh McRoberts is out with a stress fracture in his left foot. Hassan Whiteside is out until further notice with an eye injury. Justise Winslow is out for the rest of the year with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin is out for four to six weeks after right knee surgery. Brice Johnson is recovering from a herniated disc.

Probable Starting Lineups

Miami Heat
PG - Goran Dragic
SG - Tyler Johnson
C - Willie Reed
SF - Rodney McGruder
PF - Derrick Williams

Los Angeles Clippers
PG - Austin Rivers
SG - JJ Redick
C - DeAndre Jordan
SF - Luc Mbah a Moute
PF - Wesley Johnson