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The Los Angeles Clippers will be looking to further consolidate their position in the top four of the western conference when they go up against the Chicago Bulls who look to start closing the gap to the top two in the east. Join The Roar for live scores from 7:30pm (AEDT).
The Clippers will enter this game on the back of three straight wins, two of those on the road in big boosts to their prospects. While they played the lowly-ranked Los Angeles Lakers at home, they traveled to play strong sides in the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks, coming away with wins.
It has left them with a record of 31 wins and 16 losses, well placed inside of the top four out west, 3.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies who sit fifth.
Meanwhile for the Bulls, they desperately need a win to get their season back on track and begin to re-build momentum. Having only won two out of their last five, they have played some of the best teams in the NBA and it will be concerning that they couldn’t record wins.
With losses to the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat, they managed to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers. Despite games on the road, and against strong teams, their level of play hasn’t been where they would want it to be in the last few matches.
The teams have already met once this season, with the Bulls managing to take that match out by just three points at home.
The key battle of that game, and again it looks to be in this match is the battle of the big men. Blake Griffin for the Clippers and Pau Gasol for the Bulls. Two of the best in the competition will go head to head, and after Gasol got the edge last time Griffin will be keen to bounce back. Both are strong under the boards, and convert a majority of their shots.
The key difference maker though, in a game that could be played mostly inside the paint will be the battle of Derrick Rose and Chris Paul. Both point guards are known for their explosiveness, and offensive awareness meaning both have to be on their game defensively, and aggressively.
While both can put big points up and in a hurry, with the presence that this game holds inside it may come down to who can make more assists.
Prediction
The Clippers, with home court advantage have been tough to beat this season. They will also be keen to avenge the loss from earlier this season against the Bulls and have been in some strong form lately. The Bulls on the other hand have been in some very up-and-down form with a sub-standard road record.
Clippers by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this match from 7:30am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below as it unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde