Nets at Clippers
The Brooklyn Nets have clinched a playoff spot and they are 2-0 on a season-long, eight-game road trip entering Saturday’s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers. Brooklyn sewed up its playoff spot when the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday and the Nets began their long trip with impressive victories over the Detroit Pistons and the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles is battling Memphis and Denver for the third spot in the Western Conference.
The Clippers are closing in on the franchise record of 49 wins, set in 1974-75 when they were known as the Buffalo Braves. They are also on the verge of wrapping up the Pacific Division title. The Nets hadn’t won more than 24 games in any of the last three seasons and a victory over Los Angeles would push them 13 games above .500 for the first time since being 16 games over during the 2005-06 campaign. The Nets are 18-14 on the road and need two more wins to match the franchise mark for victories away from home.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE NETS (40-28): The 3-point shot has been a big part of Brooklyn’s arsenal and both point guard Deron Williams (139) and shooting guard Joe Johnson (129) could surpass the club record held by Kerry Kittles (158 in 1996-97). Williams is tied for fourth on the single-season list with Vince Carter (twice) joining Kittles as the only Nets to make more than 150 3-pointers in a season. The strong outside shooting opens operating room for standout center Brook Lopez, who scored a season-best 38 points in Wednesday’s 113-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (47-22): Point guard Chris Paul bounced back strong from a poor shooting performance against Sacramento on Tuesday by going 8-for-10 and contributing 19 points, nine assists and five steals in Wednesday’s rout of Philadelphia. Paul was just 2-of-10 shooting against the Kings, marking the only time in the last seven games that he didn’t shoot 50 percent or better. Paul has scored 20 or more points in five of the past 10 games. He has reached double digits in assists in five of the last 11 contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The teams split the previous two regular-season meetings, which both teams winning on their home floors.
2. Nets F Reggie Evans leads the NBA with six games of 20 or more rebounds and is averaging 16 boards over the past eight contests.
3. Clippers backup PG Eric Bledsoe (calf) hopes to return after a five-game absence.