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What To Watch For: Timberwolves at Clippers

By Ben Beecken

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 17: Montrezl Harrell #5 and Blake Griffin #32 of the LA Clippers exchange high fives during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 17, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 17: Montrezl Harrell #5 and Blake Griffin #32 of the LA Clippers exchange high fives during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 17, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Timberwolves will look to improve to 3-0 against the Los Angeles Clippers as they visit Staples Center on Monday night.

A Blake Griffin-less Los Angeles Clippers squad has already lost to the Timberwolves twice this season.

But Blake is back, and the Clippers have been winning. Griffin has played in 10 of the Clippers last 12 games, and their 7-3 in those games, plus wins in each of the two games that he sat out in the middle of this run. L.A. has passed Denver and now sits in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, one game in front of the Nuggets.

They will be without DeAndre Jordan for a fifth straight game, however, as the All-Star center will sit out again with a sprained ankle. Jimmy Butler and Jamal Crawford, who each missed Saturday night’s win over the Raptors, will both miss their second consecutive game.

Here’s what to watch for on Monday night in Los Angeles.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns versus Blake Griffin

Griffin has been playing well since returning from injury, averaging 20.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. But Towns has been playing All-Star-worthy basketball over the past couple of months, and scored 22 points on just seven field goal attempts against Toronto.

Towns has struggled a bit with foul trouble at times, and in the event that he ends up matched-up against Griffin, he’ll need to be careful. The Clippers star is averaging 6.3 free throw attempts per game since his return, and while Taj Gibson will likely draw the main assignment, KAT will surely find himself in the occasional one-on-one situation against Griffin.

2. Austin Rivers and the 3-ball

The Clippers are middle-of-the-pack in 3-point attempts, makes, and percentage this season, but Rivers has been steadily improving from beyond the arc and is officially approaching marksman territory.

The 25-year-old is shooting 40.5 percent from long-range so far this season, up from 37.1 percent last year and 33.5 percent the season back in 2015-16. The Wolves have struggled to defend the 3-point line at times this year, and it will be vital to their success on Monday night.

3. Can the bench have a second consecutive strong showing?

It’s well-documented that the Timberwolves have one of the league’s weakest benches — especially among playoff contenders.

With Butler and Crawford out on Saturday, however, the Wolves bench stepped up and scored 37 points, dishing out six assists to just three turnovers. Marcus Georges-Hunt and Tyus Jones in particular were awesome, and Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng played their roles solidly as well.

Next: 3 trade ideas to send Kemba Walker to the Timberwolves

Can the bench surprise once again? The Wolves will need a performance similar to Saturday’s if they are going to have a chance to come away with a win on Monday night in Los Angeles.

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