Game Preview: Clippers At Kings
(AP) -- Even with Blake Griffin back, the Los Angeles Clippers are having a difficult time getting their once-prolific offense on track as they attempt to make a run at home-court advantage.
There's little reason to think they won't take a positive step facing one of the league's worst defensive clubs.
The banged-up Clippers seek their 16th win in 19 meetings against the host Sacramento Kings, who could be without top scorers Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles (43-25) was tied with Houston and Portland for third place in the competitive Western Conference on Jan. 28, but the club has since gone 11-11 to fall 2 1/2 games out of the top four.
Griffin missed 15 of those contests after surgery to remove a staph infection in his right elbow. The All-Star had 19 points and 11 rebounds in his second game back Tuesday, a 99-92 home win over Charlotte.
J.J. Redick led the way with 23 points and Chris Paul added 21. Los Angeles appeared to end its funk with a 59-point first half, but it only scored 40 in the second while nearly blowing a 22-point advantage.
"We got a little complacent and started turning the ball over," Paul said. "I had a couple of bad turnovers in that stretch and just stopped defending and they started making shots."
Since averaging 107.3 points - second in the league - with a 73.0 free-throw percentage in the first 56 games, the scuffling Clippers have scored 99.3 while making 61.9 percent from the line over the past 12.
Teams are making a habit out of sending DeAndre Jordan to the charity stripe because he's shooting 40.4 percent on the season after going 6 for 12 against the Hornets. The NBA's leading rebounder, though, is averaging 18.8 boards in his last 16.
Los Angeles has been missing third-leading scorer Jamal Crawford for seven games with a calf injury that has put his playoff status in doubt. Matt Barnes' availability is uncertain against the Kings after sitting Tuesday with hamstring soreness.
The short-handed Clippers should be able to put up points versus Sacramento (22-44), which has allowed an NBA-high average of 114.8 points in eight games since March 4. The club is 1-7 in that stretch following Monday's 110-103 home loss to Atlanta.
"We're obviously not doing enough things defensively to be successful," coach George Karl said.
Cousins had 20 points and 13 rebounds Monday, but he's questionable for the second of a five-game homestand due to a strained right calf. Sacramento is 2-12 without the NBA's fifth leading scorer (23.7) and third-best rebounder (12.3).
According to reports, Cousins is dealing with several other issues and said he would talk to management about his health.
"It's my hope that we come to a place where he gets rested and feels comfortable about playing," Karl said.
Making things worse, Gay might miss his third straight contest because of a strained left patellar tendon.
Cousins had 34 points and 17 rebounds and Gay scored 25 in a 98-92 win over the Clippers at Staples Center on Nov. 2.
Los Angeles shot 37.5 percent in that matchup, but has put up a combined 48.1 field-goal percentage in the last two. With Cousins sidelined for the Kings, Griffin finished with 30 points and Barnes contributed 26 in a 117-108 road win Jan. 17.
Sacramento's Jason Thompson had 23 points and a career-high 22 boards and could get big minutes again if Cousins is out.
Austin Rivers had a career-high 28 points for the Clippers in a 126-99 home victory without Griffin on Feb. 21.
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