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Clippers-Timberwolves Preview

Jan 28, 2010 - 6:21 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (20-25) at Minnesota (9-38), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers' success against subpar teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves this season made their last loss that much more surprising.

Following an embarrassing defeat, the Clippers look to sweep their season series with the Timberwolves as they continue their longest road trip of the season Friday night.

Los Angeles (20-25) is 1-3 on its trip, sandwiching a win over Washington with losses to division leaders Denver and Boston. There isn't much excuse for the Clippers' latest defeat.

In a matchup with the league's worst team, Los Angeles was thoroughly outplayed in a 103-87 loss to New Jersey on Wednesday night. The Nets, playing without their starting backcourt, had lost 29 straight to Western Conference opponents and 11 in a row overall.

"A team with three wins is not a team you're supposed to lose to," Clippers center Chris Kaman said.

Now Los Angeles faces a club with nine victories. The Clippers, 3-0 against the Timberwolves (9-38), have a chance to sweep the series for the first time since winning all four matchups in 1992-93.

Prior to losing to New Jersey, Los Angeles had been 11-2 this season against teams currently below .500.

The Clippers, though, have lost 10 of their last 11 away from Staples Center, allowing 105.2 points per game during that stretch. If Los Angeles struggles defensively again, its offense is going to need to be much sharper.

The Clippers have been held under 90 points in three of their last four games, shooting below 40 percent in two of those contests.

Losing Marcus Camby in the first quarter versus the Nets certainly didn't help. The veteran center played seven minutes before leaving with bruised ribs.

His status for Friday's game is uncertain.

Camby is averaging 16.7 rebounds in his last eight games against Minnesota, with his team prevailing each time.

Baron Davis, meanwhile, is averaging 10.0 points and shooting 26.4 percent in his last four games against the Wolves. The veteran guard is struggling through his worst slump of the season, shooting 31.8 percent over his last seven contests and scoring fewer than 10 points four times over that span.

Davis was limited to six points against the Nets even though his regular backcourt mate, Eric Gordon, was back in the lineup. Gordon missed three straight games with a sprained toe.

Minnesota forward Kevin Love, picked fifth overall in the 2008 draft - two spots ahead of Gordon - is coming off his best scoring effort in four games since missing his previous two due to strep throat. Love had 20 points in the Wolves' 109-95 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Love will play for the sophomore team, while teammate Jonny Flynn will play for the rookie squad in the annual challenge between first- and second-year players during All-Star festivities next month.

Flynn, the No. 6 pick, is third among rookies with 14.1 points per game.

"This is a testament to the commitment and hard work they put into developing their games every day," coach Kurt Rambis said. "It is a well-deserved honor that they both should be extremely proud of."