The LA Clippers will hit the road to face off against the Detroit Pistons in a cross-conference battle. The Clippers are on a two-game losing skid and have lost five of their last ten games. This is their second leg of a back-to-back after falling short against the Pacers 129-111 on Sunday. Veteran superstar James Harden was the star of the show scoring 31 points with 11 assists and 7 rebounds.

On the flip side, the Pistons are in red-hot form and are riding a six-game winning streak. Their most recent win came on Sunday when they got a 148-143 win against the Hawks. Cade Cunningham impressed the most scoring 38 points while his teammate Malik Beasley chipped in another 24 points. On Sunday, the Clippers were without their ace Kawhi Leonard and the fans want to know about his fitness before the Pistons clash.

LA Clippers injury report before the Pistons clash

As the Clippers gear up to face the Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena on Monday, there’s an air of uncertainty around their roster— mostly around the fitness of The Klaw around the upcoming match. Unfortunately, after missing the game against the Pacers, Kawhi Leonard is still on LA’s injury report. The 33-year-old missed the last game due to left foot soreness and is out for this clash regarding the same.

So far, Leonard has just played 16 games but has managed to average 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. While he remains sidelined for the team, fans would hope to see him back on the court soon. However, Clippers’ injury concerns don’t end here with arguably their best player this season also ruled out.

Yes! Clippers superstar Norman Powell is also set to miss tonight’s matchup. This comes after the 31-year-old missed the last game due to a knee injury. Powell has been averaging 24.2 points this season while shooting an impressive 49.6 percent from the field. Lastly, point guard Ben Simmons is also ruled out from the game due to injury management.

While the Clippers certainly are hard hit by injuries, the Pistons have their share of trouble. Simone Fontecchio is on a day-to-day after sustaining a right-hand injury. Meanwhile, Jaden Ivey is recovering from his lower leg injury and has successfully transitioned to a walking boot. So, it will be interesting to see how the two teams navigate through their struggles.

LA Clippers’ predicted starting five for tonight

With Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard ruled out from this matchup, Tyronn Lue will have some thinking to do. That means James Harden will have to step up once again— something he’s done quite frequently this season. Moreover, Amir Coffey and Derrick Jones Jr. can see their minutes extended, given the injuries.

Here’s how the Clippers can line up tonight:

Overall, the two teams have played each other 116 times and Detroit has the upper hand in this battle, historically leading the Pistons 72-54. Additionally, the Pistons’ recent form is quite impressive and it will require something special from the Clippers to get a win tonight. Well, with Harden among their ranks, LA is certainly capable of doing so. So, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top as the ball hits the air tonight.