The Trail Blazers are presented with a perfect opportunity to bounce back and topple one of the Western Conference’s contenders in the Clippers.
The Portland Trail Blazers and LA Clippers are set to duke it out for the first time this season in what could be a preview of a potential playoff matchup. The Trail Blazers will be looking to even out their 3-4 record as they storm STAPLES Center to play the Clippers, who currently stand at 5-3 on the year.
Kawhi Leonard sat out LA’s last contest against the Milwaukee Bucks due to load management, which met strong media backlash considering Kawhi was not nursing any legitimate injuries. While fans were robbed of a showdown between last year’s MVP and Finals MVP, Leonard will be fully rested to take on the Trail Blazers.
This game also marks Portland’s first game against ex-Blazer Maurice Harkless, who for a long time served as Portland’s anchor on the perimeter and helped be the glue that held the team together on defense. In LA, Harkless is averaging the highest steals per game and Defensive Box Plus/MInus of his career. He will surely look forward to causing trouble for the team that traded him away this summer.
Follow the action
- Date: November 7, 2019
- Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
- Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
- Watch: TNT, Fubo.tv
- Listen: Rip City Radio 620
Portland’s odds against LA
- Favorite: Clippers (-5.5)
- Over/under: 228
- Moneyline: +206 Portland/-234 LA
Gambling odds and information courtesy of The Action Network. Displayed odds current as of Saturday at 11:30 a.m. PT.
Starting lineups and injury report
Portland Trail Blazers
- PG: Damian Lillard
- SG: CJ McCollum
- SF: Rodney Hood
- PF: Anthony Tolliver
- C: Hassan Whiteside
- Injury report: Out – Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins, Pau Gasol
LA Clippers
- PG: Patrick Beverley
- SG: Landry Shamet
- SF: Kawhi Leonard
- PF: Patrick Patterson
- C: Ivica Zubac
- Injury report: Out – Paul George, Amir Coffey
Staff Predictions
"“The Blazers’ perimeter defense (or lack thereof) has been a hot topic thus far in the season. Unfortunately, they’re now poised to take on the NBA’s best perimeter player. Pat Beverley and Moe Harkless will also wreck havoc on defense, making it difficult for Portland to give as good as they’re going to get.” — Austin Carroll"
"“With PG still out the Blazers chemistry should show through in this game. The Clippers will be a great team but it’s still early on for them.” — Stevie Cozens"
"“This game will tell us a lot about the Blazers and will gauge the true contention at the top of the conference. We may have no answers for Kawhi, but the Blazers will surely keep this one close if they can defend the perimeter well enough.” — Andrew Zahnd"
"“The Los Angeles Clippers have the most talented perimeter defenders in the league. I expect Portland’s backcourt to have some problems. Portland will need their frontcourt to produce greatly to win this game.” — Isaac Baker"
"“I think it’ll be close, but at the end of the day, I don’t know who on the Blazers roster is stopping Kawhi. Bazemore is a nuisance, but isn’t physical enough for Leonard, and the Clippers have enough perimeter threats to survive double teams.” — Ryan Gaskin"
Check back here after the game for analysis and more Trail Blazers news.