by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 03, 2022
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: BSSC, BSN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Clippers -2
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
Timberwolves: 16-20 (9th place, West)
Clippers: 19-18 (6th place, West)
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Timberwolves - Clippers preview and analysis
Recent form
Timberwolves: lost three straight; lost 108-103 at Lakers on Sunday
Clippers: won 120-116 at Nets on Saturday
So perhaps we underestimated the Los Angeles Clippers to a degree. They're playing hard and winning games they shouldn't be.
Now the Clippers will try for their third win in four games when they host the struggling and shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
The Clippers had their best win of the season on New Year's Day in a 4-point win at the Brooklyn Nets to wrap up a three-game East Coast road trip. It's not even just that they beat the Nets, but took down Brooklyn with Kevin Durant and James Harden in the fold.
Eric Bledsoe had a season-high 27 points on 8 of 12 shooting, and Terance Mann's corner 3-pointer capped off a 19-point game that pushed the shorthanded Clippers -- including not having coach Tyronn Lue due to health and safety -- for the impressive win.
"It just shows our grit, it just shows what we've been through the last year and a half in terms of our next-man-up mentality and it just shows what we're capable of, really," Mann said.
So perhaps we underestimated the Los Angeles Clippers to a degree. They're playing hard and winning games they shouldn't be.
Now the Clippers will try for their third win in four games when they host the struggling and shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
The Clippers had their best win of the season on New Year's Day in a 4-point win at the Brooklyn Nets to wrap up a three-game East Coast road trip. It's not even just that they beat the Nets, but took down Brooklyn with Kevin Durant and James Harden in the fold.
Eric Bledsoe had a season-high 27 points on 8 of 12 shooting, and Terance Mann's corner 3-pointer capped off a 19-point game that pushed the shorthanded Clippers -- including not having coach Tyronn Lue due to health and safety -- for the impressive win.
"It just shows our grit, it just shows what we've been through the last year and a half in terms of our next-man-up mentality and it just shows what we're capable of, really," Mann said.
The Clippers remain down their superstar duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, but have recently lost center Ivica Zubac, forward Nicolas Batum and guard Luke Kennard due to health and safety. Despite all that, the Clippers have kept things afloat and are still a top-six team in the West.
Any wins they can get at this point are crucial, which is why this matchup with Minnesota is a great opportunity for the Clippers to keep the foot on the gas. The Timberwolves are playing the second game of a back-to-back on Monday after losing 108-103 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the same arena.
Naz Reid had 23 points and 11 rebounds, but Minnesota couldn't get enough from Anthony Edwards after shooting just 7 of 19 from the floor for 18 points. The Timberwolves shot 44.6 percent from the floor and only 9 of 38 from 3-point range.
"We're not here solely just to develop talent," Wolves coach Chris Finch said. "We're trying to win these games."
Any wins they can get at this point are crucial, which is why this matchup with Minnesota is a great opportunity for the Clippers to keep the foot on the gas. The Timberwolves are playing the second game of a back-to-back on Monday after losing 108-103 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the same arena.
Naz Reid had 23 points and 11 rebounds, but Minnesota couldn't get enough from Anthony Edwards after shooting just 7 of 19 from the floor for 18 points. The Timberwolves shot 44.6 percent from the floor and only 9 of 38 from 3-point range.
"We're not here solely just to develop talent," Wolves coach Chris Finch said. "We're trying to win these games."
Prediction
The good news is the Timberwolves don't have to travel far for this game, but this will be a test for Edwards' conditioning after his return to the lineup Sunday. I like how the Clippers responded in that game against the Nets and showed some character. It won't be a perfect game, but I like L.A. to hold off Minnesota. Clippers by 8
Betting trends
The Clippers are 0-6 ATS in their last six as a home favorite.
The Clippers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 after winning ATS the game prior.
The Timberwolves are 6-1-1 in their last eight as an underdog.
Projected starting lineup
Timberwolves:
PG: Patrick Beverley
SG: Malik Beasley
SF: Anthony Edwards
PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Naz Reid
SF: Anthony Edwards
PF: Jarred Vanderbilt
C: Naz Reid
Clippers:
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Eric Bledsoe
SF: Terance Mann
PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
C: Serge Ibaka
SF: Terance Mann
PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
C: Serge Ibaka
Key injuries
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
