Clippers vs. 76ers at a glance
Los Angeles Clippers vs. 76ers at a glance
TEAMS: . Clippers (30-16) vs. Sixers (15-27)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Wells Fargo Center
BROADCASTS: TV – CSN RADIO – 97.5 FM
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: TWITTER – @PompeyOnSixers, INSTAGRAM – PompeyOnSixers
411 ON CLIPPERS: Blake Griffin is expected to return to action on Tuesday. The standout power forward had knee surgery on Dec. 19 and missed 18 games. Griffin is averaged 21.2 points and 8.8 points in 26 games played this season.
While the five-time NBA All-Star is expected to return, the Clippers will remain without Chris Paul. The standout point guard tore a ligament in his left thumb last week and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
The nine-time All-Star was having a phenomenal season, averaging 17.5 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals.
The Clippers are coming off a quality win without the two in the lineup. They defeated the Hawks, 115-105, on Monday to snap a two-game skid.
Austin Rivers paced the Clippers with 27 points, while Jamal Crawford added 19.
PROBABLE STARTERS
CLIPPERS (30-16)
25 Austin Rivers G 6-2 11.3 ppg. 2.6 apg.
12 Luc Mbah a Moute PF 6-8 6.5 ppg. 2.4 rpg..
6 DeAndre Jordan C 6-11 12.7 ppg. 13.9 rpg.
4 J.J. Redick SG 6-5 15.5 ppg. 1.3 apg.
2 Raymond Felton G 6-1 7.4 ppg. 2.4 apg.
Coach: Doc Rivers (18th season, 782-569)
Injury report: Blake Griffin (Right knee procedure, probable), Brice Johnson (Acute herniated disc, lower back, out), Chris Paul (Ligament tear, left thumb, out)
SIXERS (15-27)
33 Robert Covington SF 6-9 10.7 ppg. 1.6 spg.
7 Ersan Ilyasova PF 6-10 14.7 ppg. 6.0 rpg.
8 Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 11.2 ppg. 4.8 rpg.
11 Nik Stauskas SG 6-6 8.4 ppg. 2.0 apg.
1 T.J. McConnell PG 6-2 5.1 ppg. 5.6 apg.
Coach: Brett Brown (Fourth season, 62-226)
Injury report: Ben Simmons (right foot fracture, out), Jerryd Bayless, (left wrist ligament tear, out), Jahlil Okafor (right knee soreness, questionable), Joel Embidd (left knee bruise, out).
THE SERIES
The Sixers own a 67-57 series advantage, but the Clippers have won nine straight series meetings.
LAS VEGAS LINE
Clippers are 4 1/2-point favorites
LAST SERIES MEETING
For the first 6 minutes, 36 seconds of Feb. 18's game, the Sixers led the favored Los Angeles Clippers by 12 points. After weathering a Clippers' run, they extended their lead to 19 points with 4:24 before intermission. And they had an eight-point cushion with 5:59 remaining in the game.
Once again, however, they managed to find a way to lose.
The Clippers ended the game on a 22-8 run to take a 98-92 overtime victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
Redick buried a three to knot the score at 88 with 10.5 seconds left. The game went to overtime after Okafor misfired on his potential game-winner at the buzzer. The Clippers scored the first eight points of overtime to put it away.
Redick led all scorers with 23 points. Jordan added 12 points and a game-high 21 rebounds.
The Sixers imploded after Ish Smith's finger roll put them up, 84-76. They went on to shoot 1 for 10 with two turnovers in the final 5:58 of regulation. Their only basket came on Nerlens Noel's dunk with 3:31 remaining.
Then they went on shoot 1 for 8 in the overtime session.
It was a late fourth-quarter-and-overtime stretch Smith would love to forget.
The point guard missed his final five shots in regulation. He missed his first shot in overtime before making a three-foot, finger-roll layup. Then Smith missed his final three attempts.
Smith finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
UPCOMING GAMES
Wednesday: 7 p.m., at BMO Harris Bradley Center, Sixers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Friday: 8 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Houston Rockets vs. Sixers
Sunday: 7 p.m., at United Center, Sixers vs. Chicago Bulls
Monday: 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Center, Sacramento Kings vs. Sixers
Feb. 1: 8:30 p.m., at American Airlines Center, Sixers vs. Dallas Mavericks
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.