Atlanta @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2018 ) L.A. Clippers 127, Atlanta 119

The Los Angeles Clippers responded to a five-game losing streak by winning four of their last five and look to continue moving forward when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. Montrezl Harrell recorded 25 points off the bench to lead six players in double figures and the Clippers distributed the ball well, registering 35 assists on 42 baskets, in a 122-106 over visiting Sacramento on Sunday.

“That is who we have to be, we believe that, we said it before the year started,” Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers told reporters of the team’s ability to find the open man. “Sometimes we lose our way, but we keep doing it for the most part. There are so many guys on our team who can make a shot. It makes us hard to guard.” The Clippers will go for a sixth straight victory over Atlanta, which has dropped three of the last four after falling 120-111 at Portland on Saturday despite a big effort from rookie point guard Trae Young. The 6-2 Young poured in 30 points - his second highest output of the season - on 11-of-15 from the field and dished out eight assists, but the Hawks allowed the Trail Blazers to shoot 50 percent from the floor overall and scored just 21 in the fourth quarter. If Atlanta is going to climb into playoff contention, it will have to improve defensively as the Hawks reside last in the league in points against per game (117.5) and 26th in field-goal percentage defense (47.3) entering Sunday.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE HAWKS (15-33): Leading scorer and rebounder John Collins continues to shine in his second NBA season, averaging 22.2 points on 72.1 percent shooting over the last five games - draining 8-of-12 from 3-point range in that span. Young (16.2 points, team-high 7.3 assists) is second on the team in scoring behind Collins (19.4) and registered 25 points to go along with a season-best 17 assists in the loss to the Clippers in November. Center Dewayne Dedmon is averaging 16.3 points on 18-of-31 shooting and 6.3 rebounds over his last three contests.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (28-22): Harrell connected on 11-of-13 shots from the field Sunday, has made 33 of his 51 attempts in the last five contests and has scored in double figures in 20 of the last 22 games. Leading scorer Tobias Harris (21.1) recorded 18 points Sunday after averaging 30 in the previous two games and Lou Williams was just 2-of-16 from the field for 12 points against Sacramento, following his triple-double at Chicago on Friday. Second-leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (19.0) could return to the lineup as early as Monday after missing the last five games with back spasms.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Atlanta G Kevin Huerter went 1-of-8 from the field and 0-of-5 from 3-point range Saturday after missing two games with a neck injury.

2. Los Angeles rookie G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 23-of-25 from the free-throw line this month after making all seven and scoring 17 points Sunday.

3. Hawks F Taurean Prince had 21 points in the 127-119 loss to the Clippers on Nov. 19 and has not reached that figure since.

PREDICTION: Clippers 115, Hawks 104