The Los Angeles Clippers and the Sacramento Kings conclude their preparation for the 2024-25 NBA regular season when they face off in their final warm-up game on Friday.
While the hosts set out in search of a fourth win on the bounce, it has been a forgettable pre-season campaign for the Kings, who will be looking to snap their four-game losing streak and lift their spirits before the season opener.
Match preview
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The Los Angeles Clippers continued to gather momentum ahead of the regular season as they secured a dominant 110-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the Intuit Dome on Tuesday.
Playing their first-ever game at their new arena in Inglewood, the Clippers showed their class at both ends of the court, netting 36 fast-break points and 39 points off Dallas' turnovers, with Kevin Porter Jr. leading the charge.
While six players finished with double-digit points, including James Harden's 10 from 25% field goal, Porter staked his claims for a more significant role this season as he knocked down 18 points while leading the Clippers offence.
Since kicking off pre-season with a narrow 91-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors on October 6, when they were undone by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Lindy Waters, Tyronn Lue's men have now won three games on the bounce, netting at least 100 points across the three outings.
With floor general Kawhi Leonard yet to feature in pre-season and ruled out for the foreseeable future, LA look to have also doubled down on defensive efforts as they have held three of their four opponents to less than 100 points so far.
Before tipping off the regular season campaign with a mouth-watering clash with the Phoenix Sun on October 24, the Clippers will look to see off an opposing side who have won each of two clashes this year, storming to a 123-107 victory in LA back in February before claiming a 109-95 win on April 3.
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As for the Sacramento Kings, their rough run of results in pre-season continued on Wednesday as they fell 117-114 against the Utah Jazz when the two sides locked horns at the Delta Center.
Head coach Mike Brown opted for no minute restriction on his starters for the first time in pre-season, but Keyonte George notched 24 points while Lauri Markkanen finished with 21 to hand the Jazz a hard-fought victory and take their record to 4-1.
Domantas Sabonis, three-time All-Star, finished with a 29-point, 17-rebound double-double to go with eight assists and was a standout performer for the Kings, while De'Aaron Fox and Keegan Murray put in solid shifts in offence.
While Sacramento are expected to make deep runs in the season, Wednesday's defeat will leave Brown scratching his head as they have now lost each of their four warm-up matches, losing four on the bounce for the first time since January.
With just one exhibition game left to go, the Kings will be desperate to return to winning ways and build some confidence ahead of their season curtain-raiser against the Minnesota Timberwolves in California on October 25.
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Team News
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Kawhi Leonard's absence remains the biggest taking point for the Los Angeles Clippers heading into the regular season as the 33-year-old continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury in April.
Mo Bamba is also dealing with a knee problem but the former Los Angeles Lakers center is expected to be available for the season curtain-raiser against the Phoenix Suns.
Nineteen-year-old Trentyn Flowers missed the first two weeks of pre-season after undergoing wrist surgery and the rookie, who joined the Clippers as an undrafted free agent in June, is a doubt for Friday's clash.
The Sacramento Kings starters were handed significant minutes for the first time in pre-season against the Utah Jazz and we expect the same from Brown at the Intuit Dome as he looks to get his key players up to full speed.
On the injury front, the Kings remain without the services of Trey Lyles and guard Devin Carter, who have been ruled out through groin and shoulder injuries respectively.
Kevin Huerter missed the game against the Jazz through a shoulder problem and will be assessed day-to-day, while center Orlando Robinson is also a doubt as he returns from a knee injury.
Los Angeles Clippers possible starting 5:
Harden, Powell, Zubac, Porter, Jones
Sacramento Kings possible starting 5:
Fox, Ellis, Sabonis, Murray, DeRozan
We say: Los Angeles Clippers to win by 7+ points.
While the Sacramento Kings have lost each of their four games in pre-season, these results have been somewhat misleading and we expect them to pose a stern challenge against their hosts.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been tough to crack, claiming three wins on the trot since their narrow loss against the Warriors a fortnight ago, and we are backing them to close out their pre-season campaign on a positive note.
Joshua Ojele
