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Randolph, Clippers hit the road to face Nets

Nov 22, 2008 - 11:17 AM LA Clippers (2-10) at New Jersey (5-6), 7:30pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The group that takes the floor for the Los Angeles Clippers will be drastically different than it was the last time the New Jersey Nets saw them. In fact, they look different than they did just a day ago.

The Clippers will add a new element to their struggling club on Saturday, as Zach Randolph is expected to make his debut when they take on the Nets.

The veteran center -- who is averaging 20.5 points and 12.5 boards -- was acquired in Friday's trade with the New York Knicks that sent Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley to the East Coast. Reserve guard Mardy Collins was also sent to the Clippers as part of the deal.

With the trade, the Clippers have done almost a complete overhaul from last season. Only three players - center Chris Kaman, guard Paul Davis and forward Al Thornton - remain from the team's roster at the end of the 2007-08 campaign. One thing is for certain, though - the trade certainly couldn't hurt. The Clippers have won just two games - including one against the one-win Oklahoma City Thunder.

They have one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the league and their two marquee offseason additions - point guard Baron Davis and forward-center Marcus Camby - have yet to make a major impact.

The Nets, meanwhile, have had an up-and-down season but are coming off an emotional high stemming from Friday's victory. Devin Harris keyed a second-half rally as the team erased an 18-point deficit against the Toronto Raptors and Vince Carter came up huge in two clutch moments - a game-tying 3-pointer in the last second of regulation and a game-winning dunk with 1.7 seconds to play in overtime.