Deadspin | Clippers, Mavericks hobble into NBA Cup matchup

Two struggling NBA teams, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks, are set to face off in an NBA Cup game this Friday night. Both sides have been severely impacted by injuries this season, and the matchup is shaping up to be a tough test for each squad. The Clippers are currently mired in a six-game losing streak and are embarking on a seven-game road trip missing some key players. Guard Bradley Beal is out for the season with a left hip fracture, while forward Kawhi Leonard, although traveling with the team, will miss his sixth straight game due to a sprained ankle and foot. In their most recent outing, the Clippers struggled defensively without these two stars, allowing Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic to pour in 55 points and grab 12 rebounds in a 130-116 loss. James Harden led the Clippers with 23 points, while Jordan Miller made a strong impression off the bench scoring a career-high 22 points. Ivica Zubac also contributed 18 points in the defeat. Coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged the rough patch the team has hit over the past six games but remains hopeful that the upcoming road trip will help the players regroup and find their rhythm. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks are off to a rough 3-9 start, their worst after 12 games since the 2017-18 season. The injury bug has hit them just as hard, with Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II all sidelined with various ailments. Their injury woes deepened recently when forward P.J. Washington Jr. left the game early with a left shoulder strain and is currently day-to-day. Despite the setbacks, the Mavericks showed resilience in a 123-114 home loss to the Phoenix Suns, with Coach Jason Kidd praising his team’s competitive spirit. Klay Thompson, now in his second year with Dallas after a long tenure with Golden State Warriors, has been vocal about the constant injury struggles the team faces. He expressed hope for a time when the Mavericks can finally be at full strength, describing it as a “pleasant sight” he looks forward to. Last season, Dallas lost three out of four meetings against the Clippers, and both teams are trying to find solutions amid adversity this year. The Clippers have also been experimenting with their rotations, giving more minutes to younger players such as Cam Christie, Kobe Brown, and Kobe Sanders alongside Miller’s recent bench breakout. Coach Lue mentioned the coaching staff’s growing confidence in these young guys despite the team’s shorthanded lineup and limited margin for error. Both teams are clearly facing uphill battles, but this matchup offers a chance to bounce back and build momentum in a challenging season.