Charlotte Hornets Travel to Los Angeles to Face Off Against the Clippers

After finally snapping a 12-game losing streak away from home, the Charlotte Hornets will attempt to build on that with a win over the Clippers.

The Charlotte Hornets (25-33) are set to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (35-23) as they look to string together a couple of wins after they snapped a five-game losing streak last time out against the Sacramento Kings. This will be the second game of a back to back for Steve Clifford’s side while LA will have a day of rest going into this one.

In their last game, the Clippers fell to the San Antonio Spurs at home. That was their second consecutive loss and they will look to turn things back around when they meet the Hornets. LA will be looking for their first victory post all-star break.

Los Angeles won the only previous meeting this year with the Hornets, 107-102, as that match took place in the Queen City. This game will be even tougher for Charlotte than the last one because Chris Paul is back and healthy now since returning against the Spurs from a hand injury.

Charlotte Hornets @ Los Angeles Clippers

9:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, February 26th, 2017

Staples Center

Broadcast on FOX Sports Southeast

Injury Update:

CHA:

OUT – Ramon Sessions (left knee surgery), missed last eight games (2/4 – 2/25)
OUT – Miles Plumlee (right calf strain), missed last three games (2/15 – 2/25)
DOUBTFUL – Cody Zeller (quad soreness), missed last five games (2/11 – 2/25)

LAC:

OUT – Diamond Stone (Left knee bone bruise)

Biggest Story:

The Chris Paul Factor

Paul has missed 21 games this season for the Clippers and the team’s only 8-13 in those games. Chris is only in his second game back from a hand injury that kept him sidelined from January 16th to February 24th. In his first game back after the all-star break, he scored 17 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

The only previous time that these two sides battled this season, Paul was out and Los Angeles still managed to get the win in Charlotte. Now that he is back in the starting lineup, it will be that much more difficult for the Hornets in LA. If you look at the games that Chris has played in this season, the Clippers are 27-10. His presence makes a big difference for them.

Matchup to Watch:

Kemba Walker vs Chris Paul

Chris Paul is widely regarded as one of the best point guards in the NBA over the past decade. Although, he wasn’t the one named an all-star this season as that honor went to Kemba Walker. While that may not mean much, it shows how far the Hornets’ point guard has come. He has the ability to now match up with and even outplay some of the better PG’s in the league including Paul.

Next: Hornets Sign Briante Weber to 10-Day Deal

The Hornets will need Walker to be at the top of his game if they want to defeat Chris and the Clips. While other matchups like Blake Griffin/DeAndre Jordan versus Marvin Williams/Frank Kaminsky will be important, the stars are playing at the point guard position. It will be a clash between two of the top-10 players at the position.

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