Wednesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers will be an early season showdown, especially given the fact the Clippers have been challenging the Purple and Gold for bragging rights in the Southland during recent seasons.
The Lakers have beaten the Clippers seven times since the 2012-13 season, and the last time they did so came during the summer of 2020 in the Walt Disney World Resort bubble.
They will be short-handed tonight. They will be playing without Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, the Clippers traded for 10-time All-Star James Harden on Monday night, but he will not suit up for this contest.
The Clippers announce that Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are available tonight vs. the Lakers.
James Harden is not playing.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) November 1, 2023
A win versus the Clippers would get the Lakers over .500 for the first time this season before they head out for a four-game road trip that starts on Saturday against the Orlando Magic.