The Los Angeles Clippers have a tough task on their hands as they try to complete a season sweep of the Miami Heat Sunday morning at American Airlines Arena in south Florida. The Clippers defeated the Heat 111-105 at Staples Center on January 12, behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from Blake Griffin. The only two teams to beat LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Heat twice this season are Boston and Dallas.
Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 26 points in that victory last month over the Heat, but he is still out with a small bone chip fracture in his right wrist. Gordon has missed six straight games and the Clippers are 2-4 in those contests, including Friday night's last-second loss in Atlanta to the Hawks. Gordon is with the team on the road trip, and is currently listed as day-to-day.
The Clippers have lost five straight road games, with their last road win coming December 27 in Sacramento. They are 3-16 on the road this season, compared to 16-14 at Staples Center. However, the Clippers are 2-3 on the road against the Eastern Conference, compared to 1-13 away from home against the west.
LeBron James won the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month in January, averaging 30.6 points per game, and topped that with an NBA season-high 51 points Thursday against Orlando. Miami has won five straight games, and is 18-5 at home this season. Eddie House has scored in double figures in eight of his last 10 games, averaging 11.1 points during that span, all off the bench.
For more information on today's game, be sure to read Clips Nation.