Clippers, Kings Clash for Playoff Position Friday Night

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The LA Clippers will face the Sacramento Kings Friday night at Golden 1 Center, with both teams vying for crucial playoff positioning as the regular season draws to a close.

The Clippers, currently tied for fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 48-32, enter the game on a six-game winning streak and have secured 16 victories in their last 19 outings. Ivica Zubac, who previously dealt with an ankle sprain, is set to play and continues to be a key asset for Los Angeles as they aim for a strong finish.

Zubac has averaged 20.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game in April, including a triple-double—the first of his career—against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. His performance has positioned him among the league leaders in double-doubles this season.

The Kings, on the other hand, sit at ninth place in the conference with a 39-41 record. They are fighting for home-court advantage in the upcoming play-in tournament. However, Sacramento will be at a disadvantage as they manage injuries to several key players.

Five Kings players are listed on the injury report: Isaiah Crawford, Mason Jones, Jake LaRavia, Malik Monk, and Keegan Murray. Monk is out due to a left calf strain and could miss the remainder of the season, and Murray is labeled as questionable with lower back inflammation, which could see him sitting out for his fourth consecutive game.

The Clippers have also reported five players on their injury list, including forward Nicolas Batum, who is out due to a right groin strain, and Amir Coffey, who is sidelined with left knee inflammation. Patty Mills will miss the game due to illness, while Norman Powell‘s status is questionable with shoulder soreness.

Despite these setbacks, the Clippers can still rely on dynamic players like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Harden has recently contributed significantly, providing a scoring boost that may prove advantageous in light of Sacramento’s injury situation.

The game is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. PST, promising to be a highly competitive matchup as both teams fight for dominance heading into the postseason.