The Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns get underway in the 2024-25 NBA campaign when they go head to head at the Intuit Dome Arena on Thursday.
Coming off the back of a disappointing first-round exit from the playoffs last term, both sides will head into the season looking to make an early statement and solidify themselves as legitimate contenders in the West.
Match preview
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The Los Angeles Clippers showed lots of promise last season, finishing fourth in in the Western Conference ranking with a 51-31 record as they looked genuine championship contenders.
However, injury took its toll on the Clippers heading into the post-season, and with floor general Kawhi Leonard sidelined with a knee problem, they suffered a first-round exit from the playoffs, losing 4-2 against eventual finalists Dallas Mavericks.
With the Kawhi-PG13-Harden trio failing to deliver the goods, the Los Angeles Clippers have made moves in the offseason, shipping Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Mo Bamba and veteran Nicolas Batum.
Tyronn Lue's men head into the 2024-24 regular season off the back of an impressive pre-season campaign, where they finished with a 4-1 record, including four wins in their final four matches, while allowing 96.6 points per game — only behind the Portland Trail Blazers (93.0) and the Golden State Warriors (95.3).
The Clippers only exhibition defeat came in the first game on October 6, when they fell 91-90 against the Golden State Warriors, with Lindy Waters knocking down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to snatch the win for Steve Kerr's men.
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Despite assembling a formidable trio of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, and bringing in two-time Coach of the Year and former champion Mike Budenholzer, the Phoenix Suns ultimately flattered to deceive last season.
A strong end to the regular season saw the Suns finish with a 49-win record and avoid the play-in tournament as they secured a playoff spot as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
However, Budenholzer's men endured a forgettable playoff outing, losing all four games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round as they got swept in a best-of-seven series for the first time since 1989.
Like the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix enter the new campaign off the back of a solid run of results in pre-season, where they picked up three wins from their five warm-up games while scoring 110.8 points per game.
The Suns now tip off the regular season against an opposing side whom they have suffered defeat against in three of their four encounters this year, with a 124-108 win in their most recent clash on April 11 being the exception.
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Team News
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The absence of Kawhi remains the biggest concern for the Los Angeles Clippers as the 33-year-old continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury in April.
With Paul George jumping ship in the offseason, there are big boots to be filled in LA, and this should fall on the shoulders of James Harden, who averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 assists per game last season.
Nineteen-year-old Trentyn Flowers missed pre-season after undergoing wrist surgery and the rookie, who joined the Clippers as an undrafted free agent in June, is ruled out of Thursday's clash.
Veteran power-forward P.J. Tucker is also out of contention for the game as the Clippers have announced the 39-year-old will be away from the team as both parties look to part ways.
As for the Phoenix Suns, Josh Okogie has been sidelined through a hamstring injury and the 26-year-old guard considered day-to-day heading into the start of the season.
Grayson Allen has not featured for the Suns since the 118-114 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the pre-season opener on October 7 due to an Achilles injury and the Shooting-guard also questionable for Thursday's clash.
Los Angeles Clippers possible starting 5:
Powell, Harden, Zubac, Jones, Mann
Phoenix Suns possible starting 5:
Booker, Jones, Plumlee, Beal, Durrant
We say: Phoenix Suns to win by 5+ points
It is a fresh start for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns, who will be looking to put last season's disappointing playoff run behind them and tip off the season on a positive note.
The Clippers' offence remains significantly shorthanded with the absence of Kawhi and we fancy the Suns to come away with the desired result at the Intuit Dome.
Joshua Ojele
