The Clippers close their preseason slate tonight against Denver, which finished last season at plus-5.2 net rating, while still missing Brandon Ingram and Max Strus and watching whether Bradley Beal and Kobe Sanders clear their own return estimates on schedule. The guard room turned over again this week, with Fletcher Loyer joining as Yuki Kawamura left, three days of rest from October 21's opener against Sacramento.
Denver brings last season's most efficient offense to the finale.
The Nuggets finished 54-28 with a 121.2 offensive rating and a net rating of plus-5.2 at a 99.5 pace. Nikola Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists over 65 games, with Jamal Murray adding 25.4 points and DeMar DeRozan 18.4. David Adelman's group plays again in two days; the Clippers have a full week before their next game.
Two injury estimates point to tonight as a return date.
Bradley Beal (knee, leg) and Kobe Sanders (hip, torso) both carry day-to-day tags with an estimated return of October 14, making tonight the test of whether either actually suits up. Brandon Ingram remains out with the Achilles injury he suffered last month, not expected back until November 1, and Max Strus is sidelined with a foot injury into November 2. Jordan Miller's shoulder keeps him out well beyond that, with no return expected before March.
The guard rotation turned over again ahead of the opener.
Fletcher Loyer joined the roster as Yuki Kawamura left this week, the latest swap in a guard room that already runs Kris Dunn, Jalen Pickett, Blake Wesley and Cam Christie. Up front, Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are still sorting out minutes behind Brook Lopez.
The payroll sits comfortably under the tax line entering tonight.
At $193.7 million, the Clippers are over the $165.0 million cap but under the $200.4 million tax threshold, led by Darius Garland's $42.2 million and Ingram's $40.0 million deals. The open question is whether the health report clears before the Kings arrive October 21 — Ingram and Strus are both projected to still be out for that one, no matter how tonight goes.
Is Brandon Ingram playing against the Nuggets tonight?
No. Ingram is out with an Achilles injury, with an estimated return of November 1, after both tonight's game and the regular-season opener.
When do the Clippers open the regular season?
October 21 at home against the Sacramento Kings. Tonight's game against Denver is their last preseason tune-up before that.
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