The Los Angeles Clippers will continue their quest for Western Conference playoff position on Friday when they visit the Atlanta Hawks, who are in a similar situation in the Eastern Conference.
The Clippers have won four of their last five after Wednesday’s 119-104 road victory over the Miami Heat. L.A. is in eighth place in the West and stands just 1 1/2 games out of the No. 6 spot, which would allow the team to avoid the play-in tournament.
“There are a lot of games left and we’re treating every game like a must-win,” said the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, who has produced a double-double in 10 consecutive games. “One game at a time. A lot of stuff can change in this league. Lot of games left. We’re not worrying about anyone else but us.”
The Hawks have won four straight after beating the Charlotte Hornets 123-110 on Wednesday. Atlanta has the No. 7 position and holds a two-game lead over No. 8 Orlando. Atlanta is five games in arrears of No. 6 Detroit and has little time left to make up that deficit.
This will be the second and final meeting between the two teams. The Clippers won the first game 131-105 on Jan. 4. Los Angeles has a two-game winning streak in games played in Atlanta.
“I’m excited about this game,” said Atlanta guard Terance Mann, was acquired from the Clippers at the trade deadline. “But to be honest, I’m just looking at it as another game. I could care less what they have going on. I’m worried about what we’re doing over here, trying to keep the streak alive.”
Mann has played more minutes since joining the Hawks and is averaging 9.5 points with Atlanta, 3.5 more than in the 37 games with the Clippers.
All three Atlanta players acquired at the trade deadline have been important to its current run. Caris LeVert is averaging 16.7 points and Georges Niang is averaging 13.8 points since joining the Hawks.
“Coach (Quin Snyder) is doing a great job of letting us know what he wants to see from us and we’re just executing,” Mann said.
The game will mark the return of popular former Hawks sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic. He was part of the deadline deal that brought the three new players to the Hawks. With Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell both out, Bogdanovic moved into the starting lineup and had a season-high 30 points, including four 3-pointers, 10 rebounds and four assists in the victory over the Heat.
Clippers star James Harden (22.3 points) has scored 20-plus points in a season-high six straight games and is averaging 29.3 over that stretch. He had 24 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists against the Heat. In 25 career games against Atlanta, Harden is averaging 24.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and eight assists.
Leonard was held out of the second night of a back-to-back and is expected to play against Atlanta. Powell (right hamstring strain) remains out.
The Clippers have also been without coach Tyronn Lue, who has not been on the bench for the last three games because of back pain. Assistant coach Brian Shaw has been running the team in Lue’s absence.
