Clippers vs. Timberwolves Play-In Tournament Game

The Western Conference eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers visit the No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves in the play-in tournament Tuesday with the Wolves as short favorites on the NBA odds. The winner will face Memphis in the first round of the playoffs.

How to Bet Los Angeles at Minnesota NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 9:30 PM ET
Where: Target Center
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Timberwolves -2.5

Season Series

Why Bet on LA Clippers?

The Clippers reached the Western Conference Finals last year and lost to Phoenix – they might have won it if Kawhi Leonard didn’t get hurt. He hasn’t played this season and won’t here, either. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue revealed that Leonard has only completed individual work within the past week so he’s still far off. Leonard agreed to a four-year, $176 million contract with LA this past offseason so he and the team are thinking long-term.

“I’m not saying we’d be champs if he never got hurt,” Reggie Jackson said recently. “But just with the way I’ve seen him approach the game, I was already in my mind envisioning a title.”

L.A. has dealt with plenty of injuries this season. After playing the first two months of the season without Leonard, Clippers star Paul George then missed 43 games after nursing a torn ligament in his right elbow. Shortly after the Clippers acquired Norman Powell from the Portland Trail Blazers in a trade-deadline deal, Powell played in three games before missing the next 22 contests after fracturing a bone in his left foot. Both George and Powell are back now. Last week, George became one of 6 active NBA players to have at least 15,000 points.

George has been excellent since returning and the team has gone 5-1 in the games he has played. “The elbow’s fine. It feels pretty good,” George said. “Overall, I’m trying to take each possession for what it is and trying to make the best play possible.”

“That was very good for our team,” Ivica Zubac said about adjusting to Leonard’s absence. “Guys got better and got more experienced than we usually would have to. Some guys played roles that they usually wouldn’t.”

The Clippers seem to play their best when they are losing big. LA has an incredible four wins this season in games it trailed by at least 24 points, the most such wins in the last 25 NBA seasons. This is the 10th-straight season that the Clippers have had at least 40 wins which is the longest current streak in the NBA.

Why Bet on Minnesota?

The Timberwolves rested several starters for Sunday’s regular-season finale but they will all play here. Star Karl-Anthony Towns has double-doubled in three-straight games, and has scored over 20 points in all three. Towns is averaging 25 points, 10 boards, and 4 assists this season.

He is Top-20 in three-point percentage this season and added an entirely new layer to his game. KAT’s ability to drive as a big man is almost as unprecedented as his three-point shooting. His impact on the team is the most prominent on Minnesota’s roster. The Wolves have a 108 offensive rating without Towns and a 115 with him. KAT has also led Minnesota to the best offense in the West in terms of offensive rating.

The starting lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Towns have a net rating of 12.8, the second-best net rating in the league (min. 350 minutes played together). Minnesota is 21-13 with this starting lineup.

The Timberwolves are averaging 5.6 blocks per game, tied for third in the NBA and 8.8 steals per game, ranking tied for third in the league in the category. Minnesota leads the league in opponent turnovers per game (16.2). Those turnovers have led to 19.7 points off turnovers per game, leading the NBA in the category.

The Wolves are 21-2 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field. The 23 times this season shooting 50% or more from the field is the sixth-most in a single season in team history. The most games in a single Timberwolves season shooting 50% or better from the field was 31 in 1999-00.

Minnesota ranks second in first quarter scoring (30.0 ppg), third in second quarter scoring (29.3 ppg), fourth in third quarter scoring (29.0 ppg) and tied for 10th in fourth quarter scoring (27.1 ppg).

Game Trends

Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Clippers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Timberwolves are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
Timberwolves are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite.
Timberwolves are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 home games.
Clippers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.