The LA Lakers will face the LA Clippers on Tuesday, January 23 at Crypto.com Arena. The crosstown rivalry between the two teams has been one-sided so far, with the Lakers leading 2-0. However, this time the Clippers will be playing at home, which is the first time this season. They have been historically a better team since 2012–13, dominating their rivals with a 36-9 lead. The Clippers will have a slight edge in the upcoming contest as the Lakers will play without their superstar LeBron James, who was pivotal the first two times they faced the Clippers this season. LeBron’s 35 points on November 1 led the Lakers to a 130-125 overtime win against their rivals. On January 7, he scored a game-high 25 points and seven assists to lead his team to a 106-103 win.
Preview
The Lakers are coming off an impressive 134-110 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. This was their fifth win in the last eight games. The Lakers are getting great contributions from D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves. Over his last five games, Russell is averaging 27.2 points and 6.4 assists. He will be a key player to keep Laker’s offense alive in the absence of LeBron. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis has been consistent and will remain critical. The team needs their offensive attack to be strong against the Clippers, who have been weak defensively and have an 8-2 run in their last 10 games.
Starting lineup
The likely starting lineup for the Lakers will include Rui Hachimura, who will replace the injured Lebron James. D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince and Anthony Davis will be the remaining four. On the other hand, the Clippers will not make any changes with James Harden and Terence Mann. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Mason Plumlee will complete the rest of the lineup.
Also Read: Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Prediction (Jan 23, 2024)
Prediction
The Clippers are favorites to win the upcoming battle of the LA. Despite their two defeats against the Lakers, the Clippers will enter the contest with better momentum. LeBron James’ absence could be a significant blow to the Lakers’ hopes of claiming a third win against their rivals.
