The Los Angeles Clippers visit the Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game starts at 8:00 pm ET on Monday, Dec. 7 and will air on PRI, FNo and C+D.
The Timberwolves lost to the Trail Blazers 109-103 on Saturday. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 27 points and 12 rebounds, earning his ninth double-double of the year. The Clippers, meanwhile, are coming off a 103-101 win over the Magic on Saturday. Jamal Crawford led the game in scoring with 32 points on 10-for-19 shooting.
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Clippers won the first game 107-99. Blake Griffin was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points.
The Timberwolves are a small one-point underdog in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Timberwolves enter the game with records of 8-11 Straight Up (SU) and 10-9 Against The Spread (ATS). They have a record of 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS versus the Western Conference. Minnesota has gotten to the free throw line often this season. They average 22 made free throws per game, which is fourth-best in the NBA.
On the other side, the Clippers head into the game with records of 7-13 ATS and 11-9 SU. Most recently, Los Angeles is a meager 3-7 ATS over the last 10 games. They sport the fifth-ranked scoring offense in the league, averaging 105.5 points per game. The Clippers rarely make costly errors handling the ball. They have the fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 1.69.
The Clippers’ win over Minnesota in their last clash brought their SU record in the past 10 games to 10-0. The Clippers also hold the advantage ATS with a record of 6-4.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAC, ATS Winner – LAC
Notes
Minnesota is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 7 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 5 games at home.
Minnesota is 2-16 SU in its last 18 games at home.
Minnesota is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games when playing LA Clippers.
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Clippers.
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Clippers.
Minnesota is 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games when playing at home against LA Clippers.
Minnesota ranks 16th in points per game with 100.8, while Los Angeles ranks 18th in points allowed with an average of 101.8 given up.
Los Angeles ranks fifth in points allowed per road game (108.0 PPG), while Minnesota ranks 23rd in points per home game with 98.3.
In its last game, Los Angeles won by a margin of two points. Minnesota is 1-2 in games decided by three points or less. Los Angeles has a 2-0 record in close games.
In games where they allow fewer than 100 points, the Los Angeles Clippers are a stellar 8-1. In games where they score fewer than 100 points, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a poor record of 2-5.
When opponents have scored at least 100 points, Los Angeles has a losing record of 3-8. When Minnesota has allowed 100 or more points, it has a split 6-6 record.
The Timberwolves have a defensive rating of 101.5 (ranked 16th), while the Clippers rank fifth for their offensive rating of 104.4.
Los Angeles has an average field goal percentage of 45.9% (ranked fourth). Minnesota is an abysmal 1-9 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
On average, the Minnesota Timberwolves attempt 16.0 three point field goals per game and the Los Angeles Clippers attempt 23.0 per game. In games where they attempt at least 25 three pointers, Minnesota is a perfect 1-0, while Los Angeles has a subpar record of 3-5.
Minnesota has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.41 this season (ranked 18th). Los Angeles ranks higher with an A/TO of 1.69 (ranked fifth).
The Minnesota Timberwolves rebound 44.8 times per game and are ranked 10th. Ranked 24th, the Los Angeles Clippers rebound 42.5 times per game.
Minnesota is ranked seventh in defensive rebounds, while Los Angeles ranks 22nd in offensive rebounds.
Minnesota has forced an average turnover rate of 14.8% this season. In games where their turnover rate is 14.8% or higher, Los Angeles is an even 2-2.
