The battle of LA is looking a lot fuller. The Lakers are missing Deandre Ayton but are otherwise packing the starpower. On the Clippers end, there’s a little more good news. Kawhi Leonard is returning to the game tonight to help James Harden and Ivica Zubac, two players who’ve been having phenomenal streaks lately. For Ty Lue, who is anxious about playing against LeBron James and Luka Doncic, nothing brings more relief than having one of his best players in the rotation.

For a while now, the Clippers have been operating on the ‘Next Man Up’ policy. It’s a mindset they’ve been familiar with for many seasons. This time, they have to manage it with Bradley Beal’s season-ending injury and Kawhi Leonard’s attendance issues.

But sometimes the head coach doesn’t want the next man. He wants ‘the

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