Timberwolves at Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are in the midst of a four-game losing streak and attempt to get back on track Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who snapped a five-game skid on Tuesday. The Clippers have allowed opponents to average 103 points during their slide as defense has been lacking following an 8-2 start. Timberwolves star Kevin Love had his best game of the season with 23 points and 24 rebounds in Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings.
Minnesota has reached 100 points just once all season and fell three short of the plateau in the win over Sacramento. Love’s 24-rebound performance was the most in an NBA game so far this season. The Clippers set a franchise record by making 18 3-pointers in Monday’s loss to the New Orleans Hornets. But suspect defense helped the woeful Hornets notch a 105-98 victory. “Our defense has to create off offense, which it was doing earlier in the season,” Los Angeles coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We’ve got to do a better job with that, locking in defensively, having a more physical presence in the paint and on the perimeter.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), NBA TV
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (6-7): Love is averaging 24 points and 16.5 rebounds in four games since returning from a broken right hand that forced him to miss the first nine games. The fine showing against Sacramento marked the 16th time Love has scored 20 or more points and grabbed 20 or more rebounds in the same game. He has recorded 24 or more rebounds four times. “It’s not about me,” Love said afterward. “It’s about us getting a win, and we needed this win. It was just a great effort all-around.”
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (8-6): Forward Caron Butler is coming off a superb 33-point effort in which he made a franchise-record nine 3-pointers. The performance came after Butler scored just 10 total points in his return from a shoulder injury. “I felt like I came back a game or two too soon,” Butler said. “After getting back here and getting some treatment, I felt a lot better. Prior to the game, I was just like, ‘Let it fly.'"
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Minnesota won three of the four meetings last season and was victorious in both visits to Los Angeles.
2. Clippers F Blake Griffin scored a career-low four points on 1-of-9 shooting against New Orleans but is averaging 25.3 points in eight career games against the Timberwolves.
3. Timberwolves PG Luke Ridnour had 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting against the Kings after scoring just two points and going 1-of-7 in Saturday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.