Three-straight dominant wins
The LA Clippers come in having won 12 of their last 14. They have also won three straight games by an average of 15.7 points after that embarrassing loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last week. The Clipps are currently second in the Western Conference standings with a 19-7 record.
The Clipps’ last win was a 112-92 dominance over the defending champions Toronto Raptors, a key blowout victory on the road. Seven players scored in double figures, as led by Kawhi Leonard who received his 2019 NBA championship ring and notched 23 points on his former team.
Leonard (24.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 5.3 APG) is again expected to produce and should have an easy day over any Minnesota swingman – or power forward. He averaged 27.5 points on 62.2% shooting against them last season. His partner and co-All-Star, Paul George, on the other hand, has to shoot better. George went 3-for-14 versus the Raptors and although he too posted the same PPG on the Wolves last season, he only shot 37.9% in those four meetings.
Lou Williams (19.9 PPG) and Montrezl Harrell (18.7 PPG) will continue backing up the superstar tandem. Both are proving to be a reliable support and have combined for 26 20-plus point games on the season.
The Clippers are 6-6 on the road.
On a six-game losing streak
The 10-14 Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be officially back to being a lottery team. They have now lost six-straight games, with their terrible defense giving up an eye-popping 133.3 PPG in the last four.
It’s becoming more and more apparent that Karl-Anthony Towns (25.9 PPG, 11.7 RPG) and Andrew Wiggins (24.9 PPG) should not be paired together, or at least be hailed as franchise cornerstones. The two, at the very least, would need another key player to help lift the team up. Both are putting up career-highs in points and the T-Wolves are still looking like a squad who would take vacation early. KAT’s improved passing ability (4.5 APG) and Wiggins’ higher block rate (1.2 BPG) aren’t effective as well – both averages are career-bests too.
Point guard Jeff Teague is in a solid stretch and has netted 23 points and five assists in the past week, including a pair of 32-point games, but that should fall flat against the Clippers’ top-tier defense.
Minnesota is only 3-8 at home this season.
PREDICTION:
The Timberwolves open the gates to a fast-paced action and surrender yet another boatload of points. The Clippers take the win, 121-111.
