New York @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2017 ) L.A. Clippers 85, New York 107

The Los Angeles Clippers became the latest in a long line of victims for the Houston Rockets in the opener of a six-game homestand. The Clippers continue the stay in Los Angeles with a significant drop in competition when they host the slumping New York Knicks on Friday.

Los Angeles had just three losses in February and two were against Western Conference powers Golden State and Houston, and the Rockets' 105-92 win at the Staples Center on Wednesday came with the Clippers playing the second half of a back-to-back, making for some difficult odds for the hosts. "I'm thinking, 'This is not a good matchup,'" Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "You could see it early. We were just dead. That's the slowest game that we've played in eight weeks. I tried every lineup but it just wasn't there. You could see it on their faces, but there was nothing you could do about it." The Knicks will be well-rested with three days off since a 125-111 loss to Golden State at home. They've dropped 10 of their last 11 and 24 of 31 to sink into 11th place in the East, 8 1/2 games out of a playoff spot with just 20 to play.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE KNICKS (24-38): Emmanuel Mudiay had his best game since being traded to New York last month with 20 points and seven assists in 31 minutes in the loss to the Warriors. He also made 3-of-5 3-pointers after opening his career with the Knicks by going 0-for-13 over a five-game stretch, and is being pushed by the team to get to another level. "I think he's got another gear he can go to," coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters. "We've seen bits and pieces of it. I think part of that is conditioning. ... He's trying to get into that top type conditioning he can do that all the time."

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (32-28): Los Angeles could never recover after falling behind 34-12 through one quarter against the Rockets, but it received another quality effort from Tobias Harris. The 25-year-old scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and has at least 21 points in four of his last five games. Harris averaged 27.5 points in two meetings with the Knicks earlier this season while still a member of the Detroit Pistons.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Los Angeles SF Danilo Gallinari (hand) has missed three straight games and SG Avery Bradley (groin) sat out the last four.

2. New York PG Trey Burke is averaging 23.3 points in 27 minutes over his last three games.

3. The Clippers have won five in a row against the Knicks at home.

PREDICTION: Clippers 115, Knicks 106