The Clippers find themselves at a crossroads as they host the NBA's biggest midseason event. Recent departures of James Harden and Ivice Zubac have reshaped the roster, while the team remains under investigation for possible cap circumvention related to Kawhi Leonard.
Despite the uncertainty, the Clippers have shown resilience, posting a 3-1 record since the trade deadline. Leonard emphasized the team's focus on improving their playoff positioning, stating: 'Every win is important for us whoever we're playing, because of the seed we're in right now. We've got to move up in the rankings, try to get out of the play-in.'