The “other” Los Angeles team, the Clippers, visit the Air Canada Centre. Like the Raptors, they are banged up, and struggling to hold their place in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Clips’ point guard Chris Paul is sidelined until next month after injuring his left thumb.
In the absence of Paul, a nine-time All-Star, the position is being handled quite ably by the coach’s son, Austin Rivers. Of course, he doesn’t have to do anything crazy on this veteran-laden squad; just pass the ball to J.J. Redick or Blake Griffin and watch the points pile up. Rivers is quite capable of chipping in himself, and is averaging double figures in points for the first time in his 5-year career (though a minus_1.