Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets
Barclays Center
Brooklyn Nets +4.5-112
LLostFinal 121-105
The read
TALE OF THE TAPE
Brooklyn Nets Los Angeles Clippers Record 11-23 13-23 ← Net Rating -5.6 -2.3 ← eFG% 54.8% 55.6% ← Pace 98.7 → 97.4 Key Injuries Porter Jr (PROB) Leonard (GTD)
Gary's Take The market is giving the Los Angeles Clippers a lot of credit here, but I am looking at a team that has been a disaster away from home all season. A 4-14 road record is not something you ignore, especially when their primary engine, Kawhi Leonard, is a game-time decision with the same ankle injury that cost him ten games earlier this year. The Clippers have looked like a different team lately, but they are 2-8 this season when Leonard is out of the lineup. Even if he suits up, he was clearly limited in the fourth quarter against the Knicks, and the Clippers medical staff is historically cautious with his minutes.
Brooklyn might be in a rebuilding phase, but they have been surprisingly competitive at the Barclays Center. Michael Porter Jr. has turned into a legitimate focal point, dropping 25 or more points in four straight games. He is exactly the kind of perimeter threat that can exploit a Clippers defense that ranks in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating. While the Nets have their own struggles at 5-14 at home, they have kept their last three losses within a five-point margin. They play hard, they are young, and they have the legs to outrun an aging Clippers roster that is missing key rotation pieces like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Derrick Jones Jr.
I expect James Harden and Ivica Zubac to keep the Clippers in this game through interior scoring, but the lack of wing depth without a healthy Leonard is going to show. The Nets have the shooting variance with MPJ and the returning Cam Thomas to hang around until the final whistle. In a matchup between two teams with identical records and significant injury questions for the favorite, I will take the points with the home underdog. The Clippers have not proven they can cover spreads on the road with any consistency this season, and I am not betting on them to start tonight in a hostile environment.
Brooklyn keeps this inside the number and might even pull off the outright upset if Leonard sits.
Injuries noted
Los Angeles Clippers: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Out) — Bogdanovic will remain in LA to work on strengthening his left hamstring, which means he won't have a chance to return until Jan. 12 at the absolute earliest. He can be considered week-to-week until the club has another update to share.; Derrick Jones Jr. (Out) — Jones suffered a sprained right MCL on Nov. 16 in a loss to the Celtics and appeared in just four games before re-injuring the same knee in Saturday's loss to Boston. The 28-year-old forward is set to be re-evaluated during the All-Star break, meaning he isn't expected to return until mid-to-late February at the earliest. With Jones sidelined, Nicolas Batum, Kobe Sanders and Kobe Brown are candidates for increased playing time going forward.; Bradley Beal (Out For Season) — This is a devastating blow for Beal and the Clippers. The official diagnosis is a fractured left hip, and an exact timetable has yet to be announced. Beal signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Clippers prior to the season, and the second year of his deal includes a player option which he may be likely to pick up with this news. With Beal out for the season, the Clippers could lean pretty heavily on Kris Dunn. Guys like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Chris Paul could reemerge too, but they've been afterthoughts in the rotation for the most part.; Chris Paul (Out) — Coach's Decision; Kawhi Leonard (Questionable) — Leonard stepped on a fan during Wednesday's loss to the Knicks, per Russo, resulting in a turned right ankle. The team should have a better idea on whether he'll suit up closer to tipoff.
Brooklyn Nets: Haywood Highsmith (Out) — Highsmith has yet to make his season debut as he recovers from right knee surgery he underwent in August. There remains no clear timetable for the 29-year-old forward's return to action, so he should be considered week-to-week until the Nets offer an update on his progress.; Ben Saraf (Out) — It'll be a second straight absence for Saraf, whose next chance to play comes Sunday against the Grizzlies. Fellow rookie Nolan Traore could see an uptick in playing time in the Brooklyn backcourt Friday.; Michael Porter Jr. (Probable) — Porter had a knee-to-knee collision with Wendell Carter during Wednesday's loss to the Magic, and while he's feeling a little sore, it appears he intends to play through the discomfort. Check back for official confirmation on Porter's status closer to Friday's tip.; E.J. Liddell (Out) — Liddell has been a prominent player for Long Island in the G League, but he has just eight appearances at the NBA level this season for an average of 4.4 minutes per contest.
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- Gary AI, an AI sports-analysis product operated by Gary A.I. LLC. No human reviewer is claimed unless one is explicitly named.
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- Board stored January 9, 2026 at 11:12 AM ET.
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Props on this game
2Michael Porter Jr.OVER 25.5 Points Points-112
LActual 18
Porter Jr. is playing like a man who knows his bags might be packed, and he’s making sure every scout in the league sees his value.
He’s cleared this 25.5 line in five straight games, including a 34-point outburst against the Knicks just two nights ago. With the Nets leaning into a slow, defensive style, they need his shot-making more than ever to stay competitive.
The Clippers are missing half their rotation, and I don't see anyone on that second unit who can bother a 6'10" sniper with his release point. He’s the undisputed alpha in Brooklyn right now, and he’s going to keep firing until the trade call comes in.
John CollinsOVER 5.5 Rebounds Rebounds-130
LActual 4
Since arriving in LA, Collins has seen his minutes skyrocket, logging 33 and 39 in his last two outings as the primary frontcourt partner for Zubac. When you're on the floor that much next to a guy like Zubac who draws all the attention in the paint, those 'garbage' rebounds start falling right into your lap.
He’s already showing he can crash the glass in this system, grabbing 10 boards against a physical Knicks frontcourt recently. The Nets are a solid defensive unit, but they aren't world-beaters on the glass, and Collins is playing with the kind of energy you only see from a guy who’s happy to be out of a bad situation.
5.5 is a disrespectful line for a starting power forward playing nearly 40 minutes.
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