It is never easy to be from Los Angeles. 2 teams, both neck and neck in the West, but if you have to give it to one lately, it has to be the LA underdog LA Clippers, who are eyeing a top-four seed with just two games to go. The Clippers have won six straight games and look set to book their tickets to the playoffs with an impressive 48-32 record in the eight Western Conference. And tonight, they hit the road to face the Sacramento Kings in a crucial matchup. Kawhi Leonard and Co. are in impressive form heading into this game. The reason for this resurgence? Well, for most of the season, James Harden and Norman Powell have kept the team competitive with Kawhi Leonard out with an injury for long. However, with The Klaw back in the lineup, Clippers have been racking up wins, and everything seems to be falling into place for the LA-based outfit lately.

Leonard seems to have started hitting his stride and has delivered big time for his team. In their recent victory over the Rockets, both Harden and Leonard scored 35 and 22 points, respectively. The veteran duo ensured an emphatic 134-117 win over a solid Houston side. Now, they shift their focus to Sac-Town, where a win is needed to help them stay at the No. 4 spot in the West. Why? Well, to ensure they get a precious home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. However, the big question is: are Kawhi Leonard and James Harden suiting up for tonight?

Clippers injury report before the Kings clash

While the Clippers are in red-hot form now, they’ve had their share of struggles on the road this season. The LA-based team has a poor 18-21 record away from the Intuit Dome. Salt on the wound was, they were hard hit with injuries throughout the season, including missing Kawhi Leonard for a significant number of games at the start of the season. So, they will need their superstars more than ever tonight while playing against the Kings in Sacramento. He has struggled with inflammation in his right knee throughout the season, but has been doing well lately. But as the playoffs near, the expectations from him will be even higher. So, is Kawhi Leonard ready to suit up for tonight’s action?

Yes. The 33-year-old forward has been playing great and is expected to play tonight. This is a massive boost for the Clippers, aiming for the fourth seed. Leonard has been in red-hot form, just like his team, and the numbers are here to do the talking. The Clippers star has been averaging a spectacular 25.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his last ten games. You could say he’s getting back in form at just the right time before the playoffs. However, what about his teammate James Harden’s fitness?

While his teammates have struggled with injuries, Harden has been the most consistent player for the Clippers this season. The 35-year-old shooting guard has missed just three games in the entire season. That should be enough to answer the question. Having both him and Leonard is great news for the Clippers. Harden has been playing with a chip on his shoulder this season. He’s averaging 22.6 points to go along with his 5.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game.

While the Clippers have their two superstars ready for this battle, not everything is fine. Why? That’s because of their otherwise long list of injuries. The notable absence of these injuries could be due to the in-form big man Ivica Zubac. The Clippers’ center is unfortunately questionable for tonight’s matchup due to a right ankle sprain. He’s been solid for the team this season, averaging 16.7 points to complement his fourth-highest in the league, 12.6 rebounds per game. Not having him might affect LA’s chances of winning tonight. Meanwhile, they could also enter tonight’s game without another superstar. Yes, the Clippers could also be without Norman Powell. The combo guard is on a day-to-day basis because of a shoulder injury. He was having a great campaign until disaster struck, and he got injured. Hopefully, he’ll be in shape for the playoffs.

Do the Clippers’ injury problems end here? Unfortunately, no. Power forward Nicolas Batum is out of tonight’s game. The Clippers’ star is suffering from a groin injury and will not play tonight. Joining him is point guard Patty Mills. The 36-year-old veteran is also not playing tonight due to an illness. While Mills’ unavailability tonight might not be a massive blow, shooting guard Amir Coffey’s absence might be. The Clippers guard is averaging 9.8 points while shooting 47.1 percent from the three. However, he won’t get a chance to showcase his skills tonight in Sacramento due to a knee injury. Lastly, Seth Lundy will also be on the sidelines tonight. The Clippers’ guard is suffering from an ankle injury and is out for tonight. You might be wondering how head coach Ty Lue will manage to navigate with these many injuries.

What’s the predicted starting five for the Clippers?

With James Harden and Kawhi Leonard fit for tonight, head coach Ty Lue and the rest of the LA faithful will take a sigh of relief. However, they still have a lot of problems to deal with, as many from the locker room are injured or doubtful about tonight’s crucial clash. Two of LA’s starters are questionable for tonight: Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac. They will hope both are cleared to play before the tip-off. Nonetheless, if they are not, then Ben Simmons will have to start at five. Meanwhile, Derrick Jones Jr. might replace Powell in the lineup.

So here’s how the Clippers could start:

Overall, this will be a close game. That’s because the Clippers have been a hit or miss on the road. However, having James Harden and Kawhi Leonard will help them massively. But the Kings have a fair chance to grab a win tonight against the Clippers. The only thing giving LA a slight edge is their current form, which has been fantastic. So, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top at the Golden 1 Center tonight. Ready for another blockbuster?