The Brooklyn Nets came painfully close Friday night, pushing the Boston Celtics to double overtime before a late mistake sealed their fate. The loss marked Brooklynโs fourth straight defeat, but thereโs little time to dwell on it as the road trip continues.
Next up, the Nets face a Los Angeles Clippers team that has completely flipped its season. Just a couple of months ago, LA looked destined for the lottery โ and potentially handing a premium draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead, the Clippers have surged back into the playoff race, winning eight of their last ten games, including a statement victory over the Lakers on Thursday night.
Where to Follow the Game
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TV: YES Network
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Streaming: Gotham Sports
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Radio: WFAN
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Tip-Off: Shortly after 9:30 p.m. ET
Injury Report
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Out: Bradley Beal, Bogdan Bogdanoviฤ, Derrick Jones Jr.
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Questionable: Kawhi Leonard
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Out (Team Decision): Chris Paul
The Matchup
Los Angeles won the first meeting between these teams earlier this month, and Brooklyn enters the rematch knowing it will need to clean up key areas to flip the result.
The Netsโ trip west was eventful thanks to rough Northeast weather, but the team has now settled into Southern California conditions โ a much friendlier 62 degrees and partly sunny backdrop.
The battle inside could decide this one. Nic Claxton and DayโRon Sharpe will be tasked with slowing down Ivica Zubac, who is tied for fifth in the NBA in rebounding at just over 11 boards per game. Zubac is particularly dangerous on the offensive glass, grabbing nearly four offensive rebounds per night. Add in his elite finishing โ heโs shooting 70% inside three feet for the sixth straight season โ and Brooklynโs bigs will have their hands full.
With Noah Clowney banged up, even more responsibility falls on Claxton and Sharpe. Interestingly, both teams have struggled rebounding the ball this month. Brooklyn ranks 29th in January rebounding, while Los Angeles sits 25th. Winning the possession battle could swing the outcome.
Offensively, the Nets will need a strong showing from Michael Porter Jr. Porter struggled in the first matchup against the Clippers while playing through an MCL sprain suffered earlier this month. Though heโs pushing through the injury, his performance has understandably dipped. Brooklyn will be hoping he can find a rhythm, especially if Kawhi Leonard is limited.
One thing that continues to define this Nets group is resilience. The team has consistently responded after tough losses, a sign of buy-in across the roster during a season focused on building for the future.
As Nic Claxton recently put it:
โItโs so many games when you play an 82-game season. So, you really just canโt get too high, you canโt get too low. You get beat by 50, you got to be ready to respond.โ
That mentality will be tested again tonight.
๐ Player to Watch: James Harden
Just when it seems like his best days are behind him, James Harden reminds everyone how impactful he still is. In his 17th NBA season, the future Hall of Famer remains an elite offensive organizer โ finishing at the rim, drawing fouls, and cutting down on turnovers despite heavy usage.
While Harden isnโt quite at his MVP peak, his influence remains undeniable. If the Clippers are going to make a deep postseason push in a loaded Western Conference, theyโll need Harden playing at a near-superstar level.
Youth Movement
With Traorรฉ and Cam Thomas out, rookies Egor Dัmin and Drake Powell are expected to see increased minutes in the backcourt. Dัmin hasnโt topped 25 minutes in his last four games, but that could change as the Nets begin a grueling five-game road trip.
The NBAโs dog days are here, with the trade deadline looming and the All-Star break still ahead. For young players, the grind is real โ and a strong performance tonight could provide a much-needed confidence boost before tougher tests await.
