The Los Angeles Clippers will continue their progression toward full strength when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night at Inglewood, Calif.
After four defeats in five games, the Clippers pulled off a 109-98 home victory over the Miami Heat on Monday. Norman Powell scored 29 points and James Harden had 13 of his 26 points in a decisive third quarter for Los Angeles.
Kawhi Leonard played in his third game of the season after returning from chronic knee pain and scored six points in 21 minutes. Leonard played just six minutes in the third quarter and none in the fourth as he is eased back into action.
Leonard’s time restrictions will continue for the foreseeable future as the Clippers hope to keep their star healthy for a possible playoff berth. Since he joined the Clippers for the 2019-20 season, the Clippers have appeared in 45 postseason games, including play-in games, with Leonard participating in 28 because of injury.
“I’m just playing really and trying to do my job to help the team win, that’s all I do,” Leonard said. “I feel good. As long as I’m feeling good on the court, I’m able to move quickly, get to my spots. That’s all I’m looking for.”
Until Leonard rounds into top form, the Clippers will lean into others to make key contributions.
Powell has taken over as the team’s leading scorer with an average of 23.9 points per game this season. Center Ivica Zubac, who had 21 points with 20 rebounds Monday, has averaged 15.1 points with a team-best 12.7 rebounds on the season.
“He’s playing hard, he’s playing more minutes, he’s become patient in the post, he’s been aggressive,” Leonard said of 27-year-old Zubac. “… Yeah, he’s growing.”
The Nets arrive in Los Angeles after posting a 132-114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday that ended their season-high five-game losing streak. Brooklyn delivered a season high in shooting percentage (54.4) and points for a regulation game.
The Nets welcomed back Cameron Johnson (ankle injury) after he missed all five games in the losing streak, and he was a difference maker with 24 points in 27 minutes. D’Angelo Russell delivered 13 points with nine assists after missing the previous three games with a shin injury.
“We all can eat when we play the right way,” Johnson said on the YES Network broadcast. “When we play the right way, the ball moves, we’re scoring in transition, finding shooters and finding guys at the rim. I love it. That’s a lot of points. We’re going to keep looking to play well on offense, and there is a lot to clean up on the defensive end as well.”
Brooklyn still was without Cam Thomas (hamstring) and Trendon Watford (hamstring).
Ben Simmons has played three games since returning from a back injury. He followed a 14-point night on 7-of-11 shooting from the field in a loss at Utah on Sunday with 11 assists and nine rebounds at Portland.
With all of the injuries, Brooklyn has given Tosan Evbuomwan an opportunity. He followed a career-best 22-point effort on Sunday — in a 112-111 overtime loss to the Jazz — with 10 points against the Trail Blazers.
Evbuomwan has played in six games with the Nets and has scored in double figures in the last four.
–Field Level Media
