The Los Angeles Clippers, on a six-game home winning streak, will face the Sacramento Kings for the first time in their new arena on Friday in Inglewood, Calif., as they continue their NBA Cup group play.
Both teams are 0-1 in West Group A.
After starting their $2 billion arena with a rough 0-4 record, the Clippers have turned things around, now playing much better at home.
The most recent team to lose to the Clippers was the Orlando Magic, who fell 104-93 on Wednesday, despite the absence of the Clippers’ top scorer, Norman Powell, who has a hamstring issue and will miss Friday’s game as well.
Even without Powell, who averages 23.3 points per game, the Clippers ended the Magic’s six-game winning streak. They became the first team in two weeks to score over 100 points against Orlando.
“Norm has meant a lot to us; he’s been playing outstanding for us,” said Amir Coffey of the Clippers, who stepped up with 18 points, his second-highest this season. “Since the start of the season, I feel like he’s stepped into a big role and he’s been great. Just had to make some adjustments without him.”
However, the Clippers struggled with 25 turnovers, which the Magic turned into 25 points. Harden scored 24 points but also had five turnovers, as did Kris Dunn.
“We knew it was gonna be tough, but 25 turnovers just makes no sense,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We’ve gotta be better all around in just taking care of the basketball.”
The Kings come into the game after losing 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks at home on Monday. Keon Ellis scored a career-high 33 points, hitting nine 3-pointers out of 15 attempts. De’Aaron Fox added 28 points. Sacramento was missing DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis due to back injuries, while Malik Monk (ankle) was also out.
“(My teammates) just kept saying, ‘Let it fly,’” Ellis said. “Same with the coaches. Everyone kept saying keep shooting it. I think everyone kind of knew I was on fire.”
Sacramento has gone 3-4 since Nov. 8, which began with a 107-98 loss to the Clippers at home. That was one of only two times the Kings didn’t score 100 points in a game this season.
Fox leads the Kings with 28.8 points per game. Sabonis is contributing 20.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. DeRozan is scoring 22.9 points in his first season with Sacramento.
Sabonis and DeRozan practiced on Wednesday and Thursday and are expected to play against the Clippers, while Monk will miss his sixth straight game.
The Clippers will need a new approach to defeat the Kings, as Powell led Los Angeles to a 31-point, 12-rebound performance earlier this month in their previous win. Fox also scored 31 points for Sacramento in that game.
