After playing a league-low nine games through the first three weeks of the season, the first-place Los Angeles Clippers have a busy week ahead. They play five games in seven days, including their first set of back-to-back-to-back games beginning Monday, and they may have to begin their toughest week so far without point guard Chris Paul, who is questionable while nursing a left hamstring injury. Here is a look at the week ahead for the Clippers:
Monday - New Jersey Nets at Clippers, 12:30 p.m.: The Clippers look for their sixth straight home win in an afternoon affair on Martin Luther King Jr. Day against the struggling 3-10 Nets.
Tuesday - Clippers at Utah Jazz, 6 p.m.: A tough road contest for the Clippers against a Utah team that is 6-1 at home this season.
Wednesday - Dallas Mavericks at Clippers, 7:30 p.m.: The defending NBA champion Mavericks bring their five-game winning streak into Los Angeles for a pair of games, Monday against the Lakers and Wednesday against the Clippers
Friday - Minnesota Timberwolves at Clippers, 7:30 p.m.: Former UCLA Bruin Kevin Love comes to town to battle Blake Griffin in a matchup of the only two NBA players this season averaging at least 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Sunday - Toronto Raptors at Clippers, 12:30 p.m.: The Clippers close out their week with a Sunday afternoon affair against a Toronto team that enters the week on a four-game losing streak.
The week is full for the Clippers, with five games in seven days, but they are also facing three teams with losing records and have four of their five games at home. The health of Chris Paul will be key, but this week is an opportunity for the Clippers to pad their win total.