Clippers at Kings
THE STORY: Los Angeles has had a bad habit of blowing leads late in games - and tanked again in a 109-97 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday. The Clippers have lost three of four and will try to right the ship when they start a six-game trip Thursday night at Sacramento. “That’s something we’ve got to learn, how to put teams away,” said Chris Paul, who scored 27 Tuesday. Sacramento. The Kings have won four of five at Power Balance Pavilion.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Clippers), CSN CA (Kings)
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (20-12): The Clippers have not had much luck in Sacramento, losing seven of eight and 23 of their past 26 there. “We’re going to have to play on a higher level, especially on the road now, but maybe that will help us come together more,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. The Clippers have asked super fan Clipper Darrell Bailey to drop the Clipper name, saying he has never worked for the team and has been inappropriately misrepresenting the team at events.
ABOUT THE KINGS (12-22): The Kings have found a standout rookie guard, but it isn’t Jimmer Fredette, their top pick and 10th overall. Instead, Isaiah Thomas has emerged as one of the steals of the draft. Thomas, the 60th and last pick of the draft, is averaging 19.2 points and 6.8 assists in five career starts. He needs 19 points to tie Otis Birdsong for the most points scored by a Kings rookie in his first six starts (115 points). “We needed to get out in transition and run,” Thomas said. “I'm out there trying to make the right play. I'm doing that at a pretty high level right now.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Caron Butler was 1 of 10 from the field for two points and is averaging seven points on 29.8 percent shooting over the last five games.
2. Sacramento has scored 124 total points in the paint in its last two games.
3. Marcus Thornton has scored 20 or more in six of his last seven games.