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Two ascending clubs in the Western Conference will put each other to the test on Wednesday night. The Los Angeles Clippers (20-12; 16-16-0 ATS) are in Footprint Center for the first time since their season ended in Arizona last postseason. That arena hosts the Phoenix Suns (18-15; 12-20-1 ATS), who are eyeing a fifth-straight win at 9:00 p.m. EDT. Will they get their wish, or are the Clippers going to extend their winning streak on the road?
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After a slow start, Los Angeles used an 11-2 December to move to fourth in the Western Conference standings. Their only losses came against two of the strongest (and hottest) teams in the NBA, the Celtics and Thunder. The Clippers are clicking, seeking a fourth consecutive victory through an offensive rating that's eighth in the NBA. They have six double-digit scorers. The Clippers are sixth in true shooting percentage, led by the league's fifth-highest three-point percentage. They're also solid at getting to the free throw line, knocking down free throws, and avoiding turnovers. The team's offensive rebounding percentage is 14th. People expected Los Angeles to be among the NBA's best teams, and they're currently headed in the right direction.
Scoring attracts most of the attention, but the Clippers are ninth in defensive rating. They allow the seventh-fewest points per game and fifth-lowest field goal percentage. From all three levels of the floor, Los Angeles has strong shot contention numbers. When examining this team, defensive rebounding is arguably their greatest weakness. However, their depth down low was reinforced with the return of Mason Plumlee recently. The Clippers are quickly becoming one of the league's toughest teams.