Clippers v. Lakers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)

Los Angeles Lakers (49-14)

Current odds:

Los Angeles Clippers: (+195)

Los Angeles Lakers: (-230)

• The line for this game is Lakers by 5 points.

• The Los Angeles Lakers pick up their pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference when they face the No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers on the first night of the restarted NBA season on Thursday at the “bubble” environment near Orlando, Fla. The Lakers hold a 5 1/2-game lead in the battle with eight games to play as the resumption begins after a 4 1/2-month pause in the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Lakers power forward Anthony Davis, who was poked in his right eye during Saturday’s scrimmage against the Orlando Magic, practiced with the team on Wednesday and said he intends to play. Forward LeBron James likes the idea of being with his running mate as the club might be without backup center Dwight Howard (knee).

• The Clippers have battled issues since arriving in Florida and valuable reserves Lou Williams (quarantine) and Montrezl Harrell (excused absence) will both miss the contest, meaning star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will likely have to carry the squad. “Well, a deep roster is built for that,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “… We’ll have maybe two to three key guys out, and that’s asking a lot. Having said that, that doesn’t stop us from believing we’re going to win every game. We have great confidence.”

• Harrell was hoping to return in time for the opener but a family emergency has continued to keep him away, while Williams is in the midst of a 10-day quarantine after frequenting a gentleman’s club in Atlanta while on an excused absence due to a death in the family. Point guard Patrick Beverley returned from a family emergency on Sunday and it is possible he will be able to play against the Lakers. Guard Landry Shamet and center Ivica Zubac also both recently joined the team after being away due to testing positive for COVID-19.

• The Lakers recently signed J.R. Smith and also have fellow guard Dion Waiters in the fold as they try to revamp their backcourt with shooting guard Avery Bradley (opt-out) and point guard Rajon Rondo (fractured thumb) unavailable. Coach Frank Vogel feels both players can provide a boost in the postseason and he is looking forward to seeing how they fit in. “We know they are talented,” Vogel told reporters. “We need to shape their play to the way we want them to fall into their roles. … When the guys are coachable and they are trying to do what you ask them to do at a high level, they make a case for being in the playoff rotation.”

• The Clippers are 2-1 against the Lakers this season and have prevailed in 25 of the last 31 matchups.

• Lakers SF Kyle Kuzma (ankle) is expected to be available.

• The Clippers added C Joakim Noah to the roster to provide frontcourt depth.