Los Angeles Clippers vs Minnesota Timberwolves 2/10/21: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Betting Odds

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Matchup Preview

To show how wild the Western Conference is, the Clippers were just in first place a few days ago and now are three games back of the Jazz. They have lost a few games of late but to Boston and Brooklyn. They now will face the last-place Minnesota Timberwolves, who have lost three of their last seven games. Minnesota is allowing 115 points per game this season and offensively they are really struggling without Karl-Anthony Towns. The Clippers will also be without one of their stars, as Paul George is ruled out for tonight’s game. This doesn’t matter much as oddsmakers view the Clippers as double-digit favorites still. For odds movement and full matchup history, visit the Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves Matchup Page.

TV Schedule

Date: 2/10/21
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Arena: Target Center – Minnesota, MN
Channel: NBATV

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Clippers Starting 5

PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Luke Kennard
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Nicolas Batum
C: Serge Ibaka

Clippers Analysis

The Clippers will be without Paul George tonight, which likely means Luke Kennard slips into the starting lineup. Kennard has averaged just 8.3 points per game this season and 22 minutes per game. The acquisition and extension remain one of the weirder ones of the offseason as the Clippers do need some secondary scorers. Lou Williams usually fits that bill but has shot below 40% this season and averaged 10 points per game. He will look to turn things around tonight against the Timberwolves. Kawhi will have to carry the load tonight and a monster game is certainly in the works. Minnesota ranks bottom three in defensive efficiency this season, and are allowing teams to shoot .476 from the field. Serge Ibaka and Marcus Morris will have to chip in with scoring tonight. Ibaka has been sneaky good with George off the court this season so I would expect him to take advantage of a weak Minnesota frontcourt.

Timberwolves Starting 5

PG: D’Angelo Russell
SG: Malk Beasley
SF: Anthony Edwards
PF: Josh Okogie
C: Naz Reid

Timberwolves Analysis

Minnesota is in a tough spot this year. Despite the name value of a few players, this team is bad from top to bottom. They rank 27th in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating. They are allowing a whopping 115 points per game and only averaging 107 themselves. Towns averaged 22 and 12 in the four games he played this season, and since he has been out a lot of the production goes to the backcourt. Malik Beasley is averaging 20.5 points per game this season, and D’Angelo Russell is averaging 19 and 5. We knew the rookie was going to have some up and down games but he is averaging 14 per game on 13.8 field goals. Naz Reid has raised some eyebrows with his play. He is averaging 12 and 5 this season, as he fills in for the injured Towns. However, the front court production is extremely limited and has hurt the Timberwolves this season.

Clippers & Timberwolves DFS Angle

With Paul George off the court this season, Kawhi Leonard has averaged 1.37 FPPM and a 31% usage rate. Now add in the fact he faces one of the worst defenses in the league and we have ourselves a premium play tonight. Lou Williams has had a poor season shooting but does have a 27% usage rate with George off the court and averages 1.06 FPPM. A sneaky bump is also Serge Ibaka. He has averaged 1.12 FPPM this season with George off the court and has a 23% usage rate.

Minnesota pushes a lot of the usage to Malik Beasley, D’Angelo Russell, and Anthony Edwards with Towns out. All have over a 25% usage rate with him off the court this season. Beasley and Russell have been the most productive with him off where Edwards relies a lot on the shot going down. I don’t mind looking at these options with George out tonight.

Clippers vs. Timberwolves Betting Odds

Clippers Spread: -10.5
Clippers Moneyline: -570
Timberwolves Spread: +10.5
Timberwolves Moneyline: +450
Over/Under Points Total: 223

With the big names missing from both sides, the impact of Karl-Anthony Towns makes the Timberwolves double-digit dogs in this one. Paul George is out as well and if he were in, this would be even higher. While I look at this Clippers team and don’t really love them, they continue to win games behind Kawhi Leonard. This Clippers team has covered in two of the last three against Minnesota, averaging 119 points per game. They have also allowed 116 but that would be with Towns in. Minnesota is 6-18 on the season and 12-11-1 ATS. The Clippers have been a strong road team this year, winning 9 of 13 and covering nine times as well. The Clippers have lost three of the last four games but should take care of business against a basement team in the West.