In the second of their five-game home swing, the Los Angeles Clippers will look to make it five consecutive victories over the Chicago Bulls when the two teams square off at the Intuit Dome Arena on Monday night.
The two teams head into the game in contrasting form, with the visiting side losing each of their most recent five matches while the Clippers set out in search of a fifth win on the bounce for the second time this season.
Match preview
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The Los Angeles Clippers continued to strengthen their position in the top half of the Western Conference standings as they brushed aside next-door neighbours and rivals Los Angeles Lakers 116-102 at the Intuit Dome on Sunday night.
In a dominant team display, the Clippers trailed only once in the game — which came from the opening basket — while shooting 52% from the field, with Norman Powell dropping a team-high 22 points to finish among three starters with 20+ points.
Having missed the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, floor general Kawhi Leonard returned to action against the Lakers, matching his season-high playing time with 24 minutes, while tallying 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting.
Tyronn Lue's men have now won four back-to-back games, brushing aside the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Trail Blazers and the Lakers, having lost four of the five matches in the new year preceding this run.
This solid run has seen the Clippers improve to a 24-17 record from their 41 matches and move into fifth place in the Western Conference standings, just two wins behind fourth-placed Denver Nuggets, having played one fewer game.
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Over in the East, the Chicago Bulls were condemned to a fifth straight defeat on Sunday night as they fell 113-102 against the Trail Blazers when the two teams squared off at the Moda Center.
The Chicago Bulls led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter and 12 in the second, but the Trail Blazers upped the ante after the half-time break, with Shaedon Sharpe dropping 23 points to lead the comeback and end Portland's five-game losing streak.
Having kicked off the new year with three wins from their opening four games, the Bulls have now lost each of their subsequent five outings, including consecutive home defeats against the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets.
This drop-off in form has seen Billy Donovan's men plunge into 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings with an 18-25 record from their 43 games, three wins above 11th-placed Philadelphia 76ers just outside the Play-In qualifying places.
While the Bulls are the fifth-best scoring side in the league, their struggles has been in no small part owing to their defensive vulnerability as they have allowed the second-most points per game (120.5) — only behind the Washington Wizards (122.8).
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Team News
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Off the back of an injury-free clash against the Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers head into Tuesday's clash with a clean bill of health, giving Lue a full-strength squad, barring any late fitness issues.
Leonard dropped 19 points on Monday night to surpass the 14,000 career points milestone and the veteran forward should have his minutes managed once again as he gets in shape after returning from a lengthy injury spell.
As for the Chicago Bulls, Chris Duarte missed Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers due to personal reasons and the 27-year-old is considered day-to-day for the trip to the Intuit Dome.
On the injury front, Donovan will be unable to call upon the services of Adama Sanogo, who has been ruled out through a knee injury, while Torrey Craig will be re-evaluated next week as he continues to recover from a lower leg problem.
Lonzo Ball was also a notable absentee in Sunday's clash with the Portland Trail Blazers due to injury management over a right thigh contusion and the 27-year-old is also considered day-to-day.
Los Angeles Clippers possible starting 5:
Powell, Harden, Zubac, Jones, Leonard
Chicago Bulls possible starting 5:
White, Dosumu, Vucevic, Williams, LaVine
We say: The Los Angeles Clippers to win by 5+ points.
The Los Angeles Clippers have turned a corner since their slow start to the new year and will be backing themselves against the Chicago Bulls, who have lost their last five matches. Lue's men have won their last four games against the Bulls and we are backing them to extend this streak on Tuesday.
Joshua Ojele
