Read a preview and watch a live stream of the Clippers vs the Lakers…
Where: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles.
When: Saturday November 1, 02:30 (UK time)
Watch live: Click here to watch on BT Sport online!
The Los Angeles Clippers will be looking to further establish themselves as the top team in the city when they face the Lakers for the first time this season.
While the Lakers have slipped to a 0-2 start to the season, coach Byron Scott has had to deal with an injury crisis which has robbed him of two of his players for the entire campaign already.
Steve Nash was ruled out of contention with a back injury before the season even started, while rookie Julius Randle sustained a broken leg in his first ever NBA game.
Nick Young is also another noticeable absentee and so it remains to be seen whether or not the likes of Kobe Bryant and Jeremy Lin can help the team avoid a third consecutive loss to start the year.
Meanwhile, the Clippers got off to a winning start on Thursday night with victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, with Russell Westbrook joining Kevin Durant on the sidelines with injury, it appears that the schedule has been kind on Doc Rivers’ men to start to the season.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin played key roles in that win, and the pair will look to be equally as effective against the Lakers as they look to make a strong start and put pressure on their rivals in the Western Conference.
The Lakers’ struggles combined with the Clippers’ rise to prominence over the past two years has ensured that the tide is turning in Los Angeles, and while history may well ensure that La-La Land remains Laker Nation, their rivals are making plenty of noise in their bid to surpass them.
Bryant and Co. will be playing for pride at the very least on Friday night, but it will likely not be enough to avoid another defeat.
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