The Los Angeles Clippers face the Sacramento Kings on December 31st at 12:00, a contest shaping up as a survival battle in the NBA's Western Conference, with both teams dealing with significant injury issues. The Clippers, with a record of 10 wins and 21 losses, have secured a four-game winning streak. Leonard's phenomenal form (55 points in the last game) and his partnership with Harden form a powerful offensive core. The Clippers also lead the league in free-throw percentage, but they are missing key players such as Zubac and Beal, and their interior defense and rebounding are among the worst in the league. The Kings, with a record of 8 wins and 24 losses, are near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They are without key players such as Lavine and Sanis, relying primarily on DeRozan and Westbrook. Their away record is 3 wins and 14 losses, and they concede an average of 122.1 points per game. The key factors in this game are: Can Leonard maintain his hot streak and break through the Kings' defense? Can the Kings, with the fifth-most steals in the league, exploit the Clippers' lack of assists and convert them into transition points? Recommendation: Sacramento Kings