Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Clippers: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Minnesota Timberwolves remain short-handed as they play at Crypto.com Arena for the second consecutive night, this time taking on the LA Clippers.

Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Clippers: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Minnesota Timberwolves won’t have Karl-Anthony Towns or D’Angelo Russell available on Monday night in Los Angeles.

However, both players are out of COVID-19 health and safety protocols and working through the reconditioning process. It certainly sounds like they could both be available when the Wolves return home to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

The Wolves have already been blown out by the LA Clippers three times this season, although those versions of the Clippers team looked decidedly different from the one they’ll face on Monday.

Paul George has been out for more than a week with an elbow injury and will be out for several more weeks. Isaiah Hartenstein, who found success in a couple of the earlier matchups between the two teams this season, is out with an ankle injury. And several players, including Luke Kennard and Ivica Zubac, are out due to health and safety protocols.

The Clippers have been largely treading water in the Western Conference over the past couple of weeks, but they notched an impressive road win on New Year’s Day over the Brooklyn Nets despite a completely revamped lineup and rotation.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds at LA Clippers

The Timberwolves are three-point road underdogs to the LA Clippers on Monday, according to WynnBet. After covering surprisingly large spreads the last couple of times out, this line feels about right for the Wolves on the second night of a road back-to-back.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Clippers

• Tip-off: 9:30 CT
• Television: Bally Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Clippers

As amazing as Paul George is, Reggie Jackson has been every bit the thorn in the Timberwolves’ side in the three Wolves-Clippers tilts to this point in the season.

George has averaged 25.3 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field in three games against the Timberwolves this season. But Jackson has shot an insane 56 percent from the field while scoring 23.3 points per contest and 48% shooting from beyond the arc.

Expect former Clipper Patrick Beverley to get the assignment of checking Jackson as much as possible on the perimeter, although Jaden McDaniels will be freed up for various assignments with no George and no Kawhi Leonard to chase around the floor.

Additionally, with no Zubac available, the Clippers will have a much smaller lineup in this game than they were able to deploy the last three times. Don’t expect them to play as small as the Lakers did on Sunday against the Wolves, however, as Serge Ibaka is still a regular contributor for this depleted version of the Clippers.

Former Hopkins High School and University of Minnesota star Amir Coffey started last time out for the Clippers and continues to earn more playing time. He could end up being McDaniels’ primary defensive assignment in this one.

This is a Clippers team that is poor on the glass and turns it over a fair amount on offense, which is exactly the type of team that the Wolves should fare well against. That hasn’t happened in the first three meetings, of course, but if Anthony Edwards and/or Malik Beasley can get on track and if the Wolves could simply knock down open 3-point attempts, they should have a shot at a minor upset on Monday.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Clippers

The Wolves are without Towns, Russell, and McKinley Wright IV. The former two players have cleared health and safety protocols and are in return to competition reconditioning, while the latter has also cleared COVID-19 protocols and is on assignment with the Iowa Wolves of the G League.

The Clippers will not have Leonard (out for the season with an ACL tear) or George (elbow). Third-leading scorer Kennard and starting center Zubac are both in health and safety protocols. Additionally, Hartenstein is out due to an ankle injury.

We’ll be back after the game with player grades and key takeaways. Enjoy the game, and here’s to 17-20!