Preview: Timberwolves (8-8) at Clippers (8-8)
Date: November 29, 2015 3:30 PM EDT
A season after Minnesota won 16 games and the Los Angeles Clippers went to the Western Conference semifinals, it's the Timberwolves who are considerably closer to first place as they conclude their November schedule.
That's mostly because the Clippers are chasing a record-setting team, while Minnesota sits in a more reasonable division and has already won half the games it did in 2014-15.
The teams meet Sunday in Los Angeles with the visitors chasing their first four-game win streak in three years, though it's been even longer since they beat the Clippers.
The Wolves (8-8), who moved to 6-2 on the road with a 101-91 win at Sacramento on Friday, haven't won four in a row overall since Dec. 7-15, 2012. Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic were the only two players on the current roster around for that, and Rubio has missed five games this season while Pekovic is yet to play because of an Achilles injury.
"I don't care if it's home or road, it's hard to win in this league," coach Sam Mitchell said. "Our guys, for a young team, to just grind it out, play defense, rebound, and limit their mistakes ... I'm proud of them."
Andrew Wiggins had 22 points to bounce back from an off shooting night in Wednesday's home win over Atlanta, and the 20-year-old is averaging 21.8 per game to headline an organization that's beginning to get some attention from the rest of the league.
"I think Sam Mitchell has done an amazing job in an incredibly difficult situation," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told the teams official website, referring to the death of Flip Saunders shortly before the start of the season. "I think that young team is the team of the future in the West. They're playing amazing basketball."
It's yet to happen against the Clippers, who have taken the last 12 meetings since Minnesota beat them twice in just over a week in 2011-12.
A three-game sweep last season included 22.3 points, 53.3 percent shooting and an 11-of-21 mark from 3-point range out of J.J. Redick. DeAndre Jordan is averaging 13.5 points and 18.0 boards in the last four meetings, and rebounding could be key in this one.
Los Angeles (8-8) earned its second win in three games Friday, beating New Orleans 111-90 at home despite conceding a 15-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Clippers actually have yet to post an overall rebounding advantage. While they've been even twice, their minus-5.0 differential is better than only Milwaukee. That includes a 12.0-9.1 disadvantage on the offensive glass, and the Timberwolves hold a rebounding edge of 2.3 and are among the league leaders in second-chance points with 14.3 per game.
Los Angeles can counter that by holding onto the ball. The club is averaging 13.5 turnovers, which is flirting with the league low, while youthful Minnesota is at 15.2.
That could be exploited by the Clippers if Rubio can't go. He sat against the Kings with an ankle injury, but the Timberwolves won without him for the first time this season.
The Clippers, meanwhile, should have a healthy and rested starting five after none of them played more than 29 minutes against the Pelicans. Another win would give them consecutive victories for the first time since winning their first four games.
They're well aware that consistency is lacking as Golden State runs away with the Pacific Division, while Minnesota is 2 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City in the Northwest.
"I wish we were like this every night," Chris Paul said. "I think we defended pretty well, moved the ball and made shots. Most of all, we sustained it, pretty much."
