Timberwolves at Clippers
THE STORY: Young powers Kevin Love of Minnesota and reigning
NBA Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin of the Clippers clash when
Minnesota visits Los Angeles on Friday. Love (25.2 points, 14.5
rebounds) and Griffin (21.3, 11.8) are the only players in the league
averaging at least 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Clippers, who will try
for their eighth consecutive home victory, pulled out a 91-89 win over
Dallas on Wednesday as Chauncey Billups sank a 3-pointer with one second
remaining. “We beat a good team tonight without our best player (Chris
Paul), so it was big for us, confidence-wise,” said Mo Williams, who
scored 26 after missing three games with a sore right foot. Minnesota
has won three of four and rallied past Detroit 93-85 on Wednesday. The
Timberwolves have been much improved on defense, allowing 15 fewer
points than their league-high 107.7 last season. “It feels good. It’s
something that’s been lacking the last few years,” said Love, who has a
double-double in all 14 games this season.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (6-8):
Michael Beasley (sprained right foot) will stay at home and will also
miss Saturday's game at Utah. He has missed seven consecutive games.
Beasley, averaging 12.9 points, injured his foot late against Cleveland
on Jan. 6. Martell Webster (back) and Brad Miller (left knee) will make
the trip but coach Rick Adelman is not expecting either to play. Webster
and Miller had off-season surgery for their injuries.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (8-4):
Chris Paul, who has missed three games with a strained left hamstring,
could play Friday, but don’t count on it. “It's day-to-day for him right
now, but there's a process involved that the doctors and trainers
have,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We'll abide by that and see how he
feels every day.” With Paul out, Billups has seen his time increase,
although he too is fighting a bad back.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Clippers have won four in a row at home over the Timberwolves.
2.
Ricky Rubio had six steals against Detroit, the most for a Minnesota
player since Kevin Garnett had seven against the Clippers on Jan. 27,
2007.
3. This is the first of four meetings this season. The Clippers last swept a season series versus Minnesota in 1992-93.