D’Angelo Russell Playing First Game With T-Wolves as 7-Point Home Underdogs to Clippers
- Newly acquired D’Angelo Russell could make his debut for the Timberwolves on Saturday
- The Clippers are currently on a three-game winning streak, while Minnesota has lost 13 straight contests
- Get the odds, pick, and betting preview below for Saturday’s game
The struggling Minnesota Timberwolves welcome the Los Angeles Clippers to the Target Center on Saturday, Feb. 8, tipping off 8pm ET. Minny is currently on a 13- game losing skid and was a busy team at the trade deadline, sending Andrew Wiggins to Golden State in exchange for D’Angelo Russell and draft picks.
The Clippers, on the other hand, have fully lived up to expectations this season, currently 36-15, second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers. They’ve won three straight and will be seeking yet another victory against one of weaker teams in the West in Minnesota.
These two teams met on Feb. 1 in LA, with the Clippers winning by 12. They also played back December, with Doc Rivers’ team coming out victorious once again.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Minnesota Timberwolves
| Team | Spread | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | -7 (-110) | Ov 230.0 (-110) |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +7 (-110) | Un 230.0 (-110) |
Odds taken Feb 8
By no surprise, the Clips are clear favorites against the Timberwolves.
Clippers Living up to Expectations
The Clippers were one of the teams who everyone expected to contend for an NBA title this year after acquiring both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. It’s safe to stay they’ve clearly lived up to expectations so far, solidifying themselves as one of the best teams in the association.
They’re 8-2 in their last 10 contests, looking for their fourth straight victory on Saturday night. Leonard has led the way with 27 points, 7.5 boards, and 5.3 dimes per contest, which leads the team. George isn’t far behind with 22.7 a game. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, two of their best second unit players, are both averaging around 19 per night.
LA sits in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, a testament to just how efficient they are on both sides of the ball. Their bench is by far the most productive of any in the league, playing an NBA-best 22.3 minutes per contest while scoring 51.2 points per game, which is also first in the association among all bench units.
Timberwolves Looking for a Spark From Russell
Although it’s not yet confirmed if D’Angelo Russell will make his debut for Minnesota on Saturday, the hope is that he can add a spark to this team and get back into the win column. Although Andrew Wiggins was having an improved season before the trade to Golden State, he never really lived up to his potential during his six-year career in Minny.
Russell is close friends with franchise star Karl-Anthony Towns, so between their good relationship and their talents on the hardwood, the two should be able to form a solid partnership in Minnesota as they look to turn their season around and string together some wins. Towns is leading the team with 26.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest Russell was averaging 23.6 points and 6.2 dimes with the Warriors, so the former Ohio State star will be looking to pick up where he left off with his new team.
Clippers are Best Bet
Whether Russell plays or not on Saturday, the Clippers shouldn’t have any issue capturing their fourth straight victory on the road in Minnesota. LA is just 14-10 on the road, but the Timberwolves are an atrocious 6-19 on home court. Unfortunately, Minny will need to wait longer in order to end their lengthy losing streak.
Pick: Clippers -7 (-110)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
