The Los Angeles Clippers host the Denver Nuggets in the third game of the Staples Center Shootout, today at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Los Angeles. Both teams lost last night, with the Clippers falling 103-91 to the Utah Jazz and the Nuggets falling to the Lakers 102-95.
The Clippers have lost four straight games, and are 1-5 this preseason. Last season, the Clippers lost two of three encounters with the Nuggets, beating them in Los Angeles and losing both games in Denver. The Clippers have lost seven straight regular season games in Denver and are 18-54 all-time in the mile high city, but are 44-27 all-time at home against the Nuggets.
Denver beat the Clippers at Staples Center on Thursday night, 100-95, behind a near triple-double by Carmelo Anthony, who put up 30 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists. Anthony did not play last night against the Lakers, and coach George Karl plans to rest his superstar today as well, per the Denver Post.
Blake Griffin put up his third straight double-double last night against Utah, with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Griffin has at least 14 rebounds in each of his last three games,and is averaging 12.3 rebounds per game this preseason.
The Clippers turned the ball over 28 times in last night's loss to Utah, and have averaged 21.8 turnovers this season.
This is the second and final set of back-to-back games played by the Clippers this preseason. After today, the Clippers have just one preseason game left, Tuesday at home against the Sacramento Kings. They then have seven days off before opening their regular season on October 27 against the Portland Trailblazers.
Today's game is not on television, but will be on radio on KFWB 980.
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