Two of the NBA’s most injury-plagued teams, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks, are set to clash in a high-stakes NBA Cup matchup on Friday night. Both teams are battling adversity as they try to reset their seasons.
The Clippers are attempting to end a six-game losing streak and are heading out on a seven-game road trip without two of their most influential players. Guard Bradley Beal is out for the season with a left hip fracture, while forward Kawhi Leonard, a six-time All-Star, will miss his sixth consecutive game due to a sprained ankle and foot.
In their most recent outing, the Clippers were unable to contain Nikola Jokic, who scored 55 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 130-116 defeat to the Denver Nuggets. Despite the loss, James Harden led the team with 23 points, while Jordan Miller added a career-high 22, and Ivica Zubac contributed 18. Head coach Tyronn Lue emphasised that the road trip offers the team a chance to regroup. “We hit some rough patches these last six games,” Lue said. “Going on the road, finding ourselves, playing better basketball, and getting some wins starts with Dallas. It won’t be easy, but we’re ready.”
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are off to a dismal 3-9 start, marking their worst 12-game opening since the 2017-18 season. Dallas has been plagued by injuries, missing key stars Kyrie Irving (knee), Anthony Davis (calf), and Dereck Lively II (knee) in a 123-114 home loss to the Phoenix Suns. Forward P.J. Washington Jr. also left that game with a left shoulder strain and is listed as day-to-day.
Coach Jason Kidd praised his squad’s resilience despite these setbacks. “We lost Washington five minutes into the game,” Kidd said. “The margin is so small for us, but the group kept fighting to the end.” Veteran guard Klay Thompson, in his second season with Dallas after a storied Golden State Warriors career, scored a season-high 19 points off the bench and commented on the persistent injury woes. “I’m praying for a day in this Mavericks uniform when we can be whole,” Thompson said.
The Clippers are experimenting with rotations due to absences. Jordan Miller saw his first action of the season, playing 26 minutes off the bench, while young talents Cam Christie, Kobe Brown, and Kobe Sanders also contributed. Lue praised the youngsters: “These guys are showing confidence. We know we’re short-handed and have little margin for error, but they’re stepping up.”
With injuries dominating headlines and both teams desperate for victories, Friday’s NBA Cup game promises intense action, strategic adaptations, and opportunities for new stars to emerge. Fans can expect a high-energy contest as these struggling teams battle to find rhythm and build momentum.