Los Angeles Clippers vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview (1/6/23): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds
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After a massive 31-point blowout on the road against Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers will look to bounce back against the Minnesota Timberwolves on their second night of a back-to-back. Relevant injury news, projected starting lineups, current odds, and our picks and predictions are available to you below. Check it out!
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Odds
The Minnesota Timberwolves are 3.5-point home favorites against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Minnesota still will miss its All-Star forward, Karl Anthony-Towns, as well as Jordan McLaughlin. Naz Reid and Bryn Forbes are questionable for the Timberwolves. Los Angeles has already scratched Nicolas Batum and could also miss John Wall for the second-straight game, as he is listed as questionable.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
Kawhi Leonard playing usually equals a win for the Los Angeles Clippers; they are 11-6 this season when he appears in games, either off the bench or as a starter. As a matter of fact, that is usually what it means for any team that Leonard plays for, as he has a higher winning percentage than Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and every other player that has played a minimum of 200 games. However, that was not the case on Thursday night when the Clippers got blown out by 31 points on the road against Denver.
Best win percentage all-time (minimum 200 games):
.743 — Kawhi
.740 — Magic
.736 — BirdKawhi is 10-4 as a starter this season. pic.twitter.com/ThcMhOgAa7
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 6, 2023
Denver is one of the best home teams in the NBA, but there is no excuse for the Clippers’ offense, which put up a measly 91 points against a bottom-ten defense in the league. Los Angeles shot 5-for-37 from behind the arc and only managed to shoot 37.4% from the field. This has been a cyclical issue for the Clippers throughout the 2022-23 season. First, they look like a championship-caliber team by pummeling a contender, and then they drop a game by a wide margin, looking like a group of players that were placed on the court together for the first time.
Luckily for the Clippers, Minnesota has scarcely resembled the team many people thought it would be this season. The Timberwolves are currently in 11th place in the Western Conference and without their best player, Karl Anthony-Towns, for at least a few more weeks. However, Minnesota has won back-to-back home games after suffering an abysmal loss to the Detroit Pistons. Any success that the Timberwolves have had recently is due to Anthony Edwards’ stellar play. Edwards has averaged close to 30 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per contest in his past seven games.
This game should be a tight one, as neither team has looked exceedingly well in the past few weeks. My pick is contingent on Paul George and Kawhi Leonard’s availability for this game; however, if they play, I like the Clippers to cover the tight spread. Minnesota should still grab a narrow win at home, though.
Betting Trends
- Los Angeles is 11-9 ATS on the road in 2022-23
- Minnesota is 9-11 ATS at home in 2022-23
- The combined over record of these two teams is 34-44 in 2022-23
Key Matchups
Paul George and Anthony Edwards make up the obvious key matchup in this game, as they are two of the best shooting guards in the NBA. See which one will prevail in this battle below!
Paul George vs. Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards has been on a tear in his past seven games, averaging roughly 30 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Edwards has stepped up in Karl Anthony-Towns’ absence, but it often still has not been enough for the Timberwolves to overcome their other shortcomings.
Meanwhile, Paul George has quietly put together another solid season, posting 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists per game on 45% shooting from the field and 39% from deep. Normally, I like George in this matchup, as he is one of the best wing defenders in the league and boasts a three or four-inch height advantage on Edwards. He might have the quickest hands in the NBA on the defensive end!
Unfortunately, George tweaked his hamstring earlier this week and only played 14 minutes in last night’s game. I expect George to be a step slow against a surging Edwards if the Clippers even let him play at all. Advantage: Edwards.
Los Angeles Clippers Starting Lineup
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Paul George
SF: Kawhi Leonard
PF: Marcus Morris Sr
C: Ivica Zubac
Minnesota Timberwolves Starting Lineups
PG: D’Angelo Russell
SG: Anthony Edwards
SF: Kyle Anderson
PF: Jaden McDaniels
C: Rudy Gobert
Key Injuries
Los Angeles Clippers Injuries: Nicolas Batum (Out), John Wall (Q), Paul George (Q)
Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries: Jordan McLaughlin (Out), Karl Anthony-Towns (Out), Naz Reid (Q), Bryn Forbes (Q)
