The Clippers will try to end a six-game losing streak since the acquisition of James Harden when they face the Houston Rockets Friday evening in their first home game in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.
The Clippers (3-7) share the league's sixth-worst record with the Charlotte Hornets. They lost both their tournament games and are unlikely to advance to the knockout rounds which consists of the first-place finisher in each of the six five-team groups and the team from each conference with the best record in group play games that finished second in its group.
The Clippers have one group play game remaining after Friday evening, next Friday against New Orleans at Crypto.com Arena.
Houston has won six consecutive games following an 0-3 start and are 1- 0 in tournament play.
The Clippers have a seven-game winning streak over the Rockets.
Tournament games are played on courts the NBA describes as having "a bold and distinctive style," with a unified look.
The courts are fully painted edge-to-edge, with a contrasting wash of color from lane-to-lane, creating a 16-foot wide "runway" across the court. There is larger-than-life NBA Cup at center court and NBA Cup silhouettes in the lanes.
Teams will wear their City jerseys throughout the tournament. The Clippers' City jersey for the 2023-24 season is navy and Pacific blue, associated with their nautical heritage.
The Clips nickname wordmark is a custom illustration by contemporary artist Jonas Wood, inspired by the San Diego Clippers' uniforms of the 1970's and '80s and the team's jerseys shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 1984.
The shorts feature a second illustration incorporating basketballs into the Clippers' secondary logo.
Joe Dumars, the league's executive vice president, head of basketball operations, called the tournament an opportunity to engage "fans in a different way and driving further interest in the early portion of the regular- season schedule."
The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised by Bally Sports SoCal.
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