Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers game preview

The Rockets have seen enough of the Clippers to know exactly what’s coming.

Milos Teodosic will not miss a shot. Montrezl Harrell probably won’t, either. Lou Williams and Austin Rivers will hit some ridiculous off-balance jumpers. DeAndre Jordan will be a deterrent at the rim. Jawun Evans will probably get away with seven fouls or a bunch of flops, but nothing will come of it. No you’re still bitter.

The Clips are in seventh place, mere percentage points above the ninth seed Spurs. LA’s closing schedule is brutal: their next eight games are against playoff teams/hopefuls, as are 14 of their remaining 16. They close with Denver, New Orleans, and the Lakers at home, which could either be humongous or totally meaningless by that point.

The Clippers are 5-1 since dropping that game to the Rockets, but all five of those wins came against the East and their only loss was at Staples Center to the Pelicans.

Houston will be without Ryan Anderson once again, who is on track to play Saturday in New Orleans. Chris Paul did not practice yesterday, but will be available for Houston. Clint Capela is probable with a strained left thumb. The Rockets will need Capela to go up against Jordan so that’s something to keep an eye on.

The Clippers are built to keep up with the Rockets. They have enough shooters and an interior presence that limits the gimmes. The intensity the former Rockets bring to beat their former employer is palpable, and it’s how LA knocked off Houston twice earlier in the season.

Then the third matchup on February 28 came around. And this happened:

Tip-off is at 7pm CT on NBA TV