The Los Angeles Clippers hit the road and take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minnesota on Monday night.
After a busy trade week, the retooled Los Angeles Clippers won their first game on Saturday night, rallying from a 28-point deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 123-112 at the TD Garden. The game featured the Clippers’ debut of newcomers Landry Shamet, Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green and Ivica Zubac who all contributed to their new team’s win.
The Clippers are the 8th highest scoring team in the league at 113.8 points per game. Los Angeles is ranked 23rd in passing with 23.1 assists per game and they are also 13th in rebounding at 45.3 boards per outing. The Clippers have the 7th worst scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 113.6 points per game.
Clippers
+175
Timberwolves
-210
Odds from Bet365 as of 2/11/19
The Minnesota Timberwolves are currently facing hard times as they are in a four-game slide and have lost six out of their last seven games overall. The Wolves are coming off a three game road trip which saw them lose to the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans by an aggregate margin of 17 points.
Karl Anthony-Towns leads the Wolves with 23.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Derrick Rose is having a resurgence with 18.3 points and 4.7 assists per game while Andrew Wiggins is averaging 17.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Taj Gibson is contributing 10.4 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Wolves.
Minnesota is 17th in the NBA in team scoring at 111.4 points per game. The Timberwolves are ranked 15th in assists at 24.4 dimes per contest. They are also 18th in rebounding at 45.1 boards per contest and have the 19th ranked scoring defense in the entire league at 111.6 points per game allowed.
Los Angeles is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Clippers are 5-2 SU in their last seven road games. Minnesota is 4-6 SU in their last 10 games played and the Wolves are 2-2 SU at home during that stretch. Head to head, the Timberwolves are 6-4 SU in their last 10 meetings against the Clippers.
The Clippers underwent a makeover last week. They traded top scorer Tobias Harris in one of their trades but got value players in return such as Landry Shamet, Garrett Temple, JaMychal Green and Ivica Zubac who provide the Clippers more depth plus other scoring options.
Minnesota is playing without Robert Covington while three point guards are either probable or questionable and a fourth one in Tyus Jones is out. Without Derrick Rose Jeff Teague and Jerryd Bayless or either of the three playing hurt, Minnesota’s offense is going to suffer, especially in close games.
The Clippers are 16-14 SU on the road this season. Minnesota has lost four in a row but the Wolves are a solid 17-10 SU at home. Minnesota’s woes are going to continue for as long as they aren’t healthy. They need their point guards back ASAP.
I’m picking the Los Angeles Clippers to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on 2/11/19.
The Clippers are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played and 5-2 ATS in seven road games played during that period. The Timberwolves are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played and are 0-4 ATS in their last four games played at home. Head to head, the Timberwolves are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games against the Clippers.
Clippers
+4.5 (-110)
Timberwolves
-4.5 (-110)
Odds from Bet365 as of 2/11/19
Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in their last five games against teams with a losing record. The Clippers are 5-1 in their last six games when playing on one day rest and are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 road games played. The Wolves are 1-4 ATS in their last five games the Western Conference, 0-5 ATS in their last five home games and 1-5 ATS in their last six overall. The honeymoon stage should continue with the new-look Clippers and they should pick up this win over the struggling Timberwolves.
Prediction: Clippers
The over is 4-3 in the Clippers’ last seven games played. The total has gone over in five out of the last seven road games played by Los Angeles. The over is 4-2 in the Timberwolves’ last six games played. The total has gone over in 15 out of 27 home games played by the Timberwolves this season.
Clippers
O 222.5 1.90
Timberwolves
U 222.5 1.90
Odds from Bet365 as of 2/11/19
Minnesota is averaging just 108 points in their last five games. With several key players either questionable of still in the injured list, we’re not sure if Towns and Wiggins can carry the offense by themselves. With three point guards possibly not playing here, I think scoring is going to be a problem for the Wolves.
Prediction: Under
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