The Clippers are looking to build on their recent momentum when they visit the Trail Blazers on Friday night.
The Clippers have listed three players on the injury report for Friday's contest.
Bradley Beal remains out for the season due to a hip injury he suffered in early November, which has been a big blow to the team's depth considering their record so far this season.
Derrick Jones Jr. continues to miss time with a knee injury that will keep him out for at least the next few games, but his return seems imminent.
Additionally, Ivica Zubac is sidelined with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain and is expected to miss at least three more weeks after going down during the team's win over the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday.
Despite these injuries, the Clippers have strung together back-to-back wins for just the second time this season, and they are hoping their star duo can keep things rolling.
Leonard and Harden Leading the Charge
Kawhi Leonard has been on fire lately, scoring 32 points in Saturday's 103-88 victory over the Lakers and then dropping a season-high 41 points in Tuesday's 128-108 blowout win against the Houston Rockets.
Leonard is averaging 26.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game this season, and his recent performances show he is rounding into form at the right time.
James Harden has been equally important to the team's success, putting up 29 points, six assists, and four rebounds in the win over Houston.
On the season, Harden is averaging 26.0 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game while making 3.6 three-pointers per contest, which ranks among the league leaders.
When both Leonard and Harden are clicking, the Clippers are tough to beat, and keeping the duo healthy and productive remains the team's top-priority moving forward.
Filling the Void at Center
With Zubac out of the lineup, John Collins and Brook Lopez will need to step up in the frontcourt.
Collins has shown flashes of his potential, posting a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Lakers, and he followed that up with 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists against Houston.
Collins is averaging 12.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this season, and his ability to stretch the floor and provide energy off the bench will be crucial during Zubac's absence.
Blazers Dealing With Their Own Injury Issues
The Trail Blazers are not without their own problems heading into this matchup, as they have eight players listed on the injury report.
Jerami Grant is out with left Achilles tendonitis, while Damian Lillard remains out for the season with a left Achilles tendon tear.
Scoot Henderson is still recovering from a left hamstring tear, and both Jrue Holiday and Matisse Thybulle remain sidelined with calf and thumb injuries respectively.
Portland has lost two straight games to the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic, and they are hoping to get back on track against a Clippers team they have struggled against recently.
The Clippers have won 19 of the last 21 meetings between the two teams, including a 114-107 home victory back on October 26th when Leonard had 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Building Momentum on the Road
Harden acknowledged the team's difficult position but remains confident they can turn things around with a long stretch of home games coming up after Friday's road trip.
The Clippers are looking to capture their season-best third straight victory in Portland, and a win would give them some positive momentum heading into a favorable schedule.
With the Trail Blazers dealing with so many injuries of their own and sitting at 12-18 on the season, this represents a solid opportunity for the Clippers to stack another win and start climbing the Western Conference standings.
Despite sitting in 13th place, Leonard has expressed confidence that the team can make a run with more than 50 games still remaining on the schedule.
Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET on Friday.