The Los Angeles Clippers face the Sacramento Kings on December 31st at 12:00. This is a survival battle in the NBA Western Conference, with both teams dealing with significant injuries. The Clippers, with a record of 10 wins and 21 losses, have secured a four-game winning streak. Kawhi Leonard, coming off a 55-point performance, forms a formidable offensive duo with James Harden. The Clippers lead the league in free throw percentage. However, key players like Ivica Zubac and Terance Mann are out, leaving the team vulnerable in the paint and ranking at the bottom of the league in rebounding. The Kings, holding a record of 8 wins and 24 losses, are near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Key players like Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis are injured. DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook are carrying the team. The Kings have a poor away record of 3 wins and 14 losses and allow an average of 122.1 points per game on the road. Two key factors will decide this game. Firstly, can Kawhi Leonard maintain his hot shooting to break through the Kings' porous defense? Secondly, can the Kings exploit the Clippers' lack of assists using their league-fifth-best steals to generate fast-break opportunities? Recommendation: Los Angeles Clippers