Clippers vs Kings: Who’s In, Who’s Out

Although both Pacific Division rivals the L.A. Clippers and Sacramento Kings are postseason-bound, the two franchises appear to be trending in opposite directions as their respective 2024-25 regular seasons wind down.

The Clippers have looked absolutely revitalized of late, with six-time All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard finally, 33, starting to look like his two-time Finals MVP self at last.

Since March, the 6-foot-7 swingman has been averaging 25.1 points on .522/.415/.836 shooting splits, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.5 blocks a night. Injuries have limited him to just 35 games this year, but he’s certainly looking healthy now.

11-time All-Star point guard James Harden, meanwhile, has been the club’s unquestioned leader this season. Though the 35-year-old is no longer quite the athletic dynamo he was during his Houston Rockets-era prime, the Arizona State product has been averaging 22.6 points on .406/.349/.875 shooting splits, 8.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds while helping steward the club to a surprisingly robust playoff push.

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Shooting guard Norman Powell, elevated to the starting lineup for L.A. after some major offensive moves, has been enjoying a breakout season. Center Ivica Zubac has also looked like he could give Powell a run for his money in nabbing Most Improved Player honors this spring.

The Clippers have won their last six straight games, and eight of their last 10. The team is now knotted with the Denver Nuggets by record, 48-32, and currently the No. 5 seed in a crowded Western Conference playoff picture.

Sacramento, meanwhile, has done just enough to secure a flimsy hold on the ninth seed in the West, with a middling 39-41 record. The Kings have gone 4-6 across their last 10 bouts, and are stumbling into the play-in tournament looking like they could be mere cannon fodder for which West clubs earn the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds.

After parting ways with All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento acquired former two-time Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine at the trade deadline, reuniting him with his former Chicago teammate DeMar DeRozan. Along with sixth man extraordinaire Malik Monk and All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, they formed a core of all-offense, no-defense, high-usage stars, and have struggled to cultivate much of a rhythm together.

Per Clippers beat reporter Justin Russo, Monk (left calf strain), big man Jake LaRavia (left thumb scaphoid fracture) have already been ruled out. Young forward Keegan Murray (lower back inflammation) was questionable to play.

Powell (right shoulder soreness) and Zubac (right ankle sprain) were both questionable to suit up. Reserve wings Nicolas Batum (right groin strain) and Amir Coffey (left knee inflammation) are both on the shelf. Deep-bench sharpshooting combo guard Patty Mills is sick.

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Now, the final statuses of these players have been revealed.

Per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, Murray has been given the green light to suit up in this penultimate contest.

On the Clippers side, Anderson has provided an update for Powell and Zubac, as well.

Both will suit up for this key matchup, with L.A. clearly hoping to avoid the play-in tournament and snag a victory on the road.

The matchup tips off at 7 p.m. PT in Sacramento.

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Kings Trade for Veteran Center Jonas Valanciunas in Blockbuster Deal

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