Los Angeles @ Phoenix preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 23, 2018 ) L.A. Clippers 128, Phoenix 117

The Los Angeles Clippers look to finish off a four-game season sweep of Phoenix on Wednesday as well as defeat the host Suns for the eighth consecutive time in a contest pivotal for their postseason aspirations. Los Angeles trails the eighth-place Minnesota Timberwolves by 1 1/2 games in the battle for the final Western Conference playoff spot with eight games remaining.

The Clippers, who have won 13 of their past 20 road games, thrived at home Tuesday by notching a crucial 105-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The terrain is tough down the stretch with Los Angeles playing three teams it trails by 2 1/2 games or fewer in the West in New Orleans, San Antonio and Utah and another against Denver, which is a half-game behind the Clippers. Phoenix has struggled mightily all season and has dropped its last 12 games and 27 of the past 29. Standout shooting guard Devin Booker (hand) didn't practice Tuesday and will likely miss his sixth straight game.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Arizona (Phoenix)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (40-34): Guard Austin Rivers scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday after being chewed out at the end of the third quarter by injured Patrick Beverley and assistant coach Sam Cassell. "I felt like the whole game I wasn't in the right spirit," Rivers said in a postgame television interview. "I wasn't in attack mode. I didn't want to let my teammates down. I would have been real frustrated if we had lost this game, knowing that I didn't give them anything. We need every win to get to the playoffs." Rivers' final-quarter splurge was timely with shooting guard Lou Williams struggling to 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting along with matching a season worst of seven turnovers.

ABOUT THE SUNS (19-56): Not only will Phoenix be without its leading scorer in Booker (24.9) but small forward TJ Warren (knee) is also an unlikely participant after he also missed Tuesday's practice. Warren ranks second on the club with a 19.6 average and that leaves rookie swingman Josh Jackson (12.4) as the team's most potent offensive player with the top two scorers out. Jackson has been up to the task by averaging 20.7 points over the past seven games, topped by a season-best 36-point outing against the Golden State Warriors on March 17.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers have won 16 of the past 18 meetings.

2. Los Angeles PG Milos Teodosic (plantar fasciitis) departed the game against the Bucks and will undergo an MRI exam Wednesday.

3. Phoenix SG Troy Daniels is averaging 17.2 points and made 21 3-pointers during the five games Booker has missed.

PREDICTION: Clippers 122, Suns 107