Tonight: The 40-28 playoff-bound Brooklyn Nets are on game three of their eight-game Circus Trip, taking on their hardest opponent thus far on the trip: the 47-22 Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers most recently beat the Philadelphia 76ers 101-72, and are led by Chris Paul, who currently ranks third in the league in PER. (Brook Lopez ranks fourth.) The Nets are 2-0 on their trip after taking down the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks.
The BK Game Streak: Play “The BK Game Streak,” where you can build a streak of wins along the betting line over the course of the season. Three prizes will be awarded at the end of the year, with first prize a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Log in with Facebook to get started, vote in the box above, and good luck!
Watch & Listen: Tonight’s game is broadcast on YES Network. Chris Carrino and Mike Fratello are on the call. The game is also broadcast on ESPN. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.
More on tonight’s game, including injuries and stats, after the jump.
Out: The Nets, as Tim Bontemps noted, miraculously made it through a whole shootaround without incurring any injuries. Bontemps added that he spoke with Kris Humphries, who said he’d be good to go after hurting his back earlier this week, but he still suffers from a broken rotation spot. For the Clippers, guard Chauncey Billups (groin) will not play, but guard Eric Bledsoe (calf) and Ronny Turiaf (knee) are in.
Starting Lineups:
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul, Willie Green, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan (536 minutes, +/- +6.8 per 100 possessions)
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Reggie Evans, Brook Lopez (519 minutes, +/- +.2 per 100 possessions)
Advanced Statistics:
Los Angeles Clippers: 103.3 offensive rating (7th), 103.8 defensive rating (8th), 96.81 possessions per game (17th)
Brooklyn Nets: 104.1 offensive rating (9th), 103.2 defensive rating (17th), 90.75 possessions per game (29th)
Apropos of nothing, here’s what DeAndre Jordan did to Brandon Knight again:
Apropos of nothing part 2, here’s what Blake Griffin did to Deron Williams when Deron tried to dunk again:
Things to read:
- Chris Paul vs. Deron Williams — previewing the matchup of two elite, intertwined point guards
- Clippers expertise — Fred Katz of ClipperBlog helps us break down the Clippers
Go Nets!
