Minnesota @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2017 ) Minnesota 113, L.A. Clippers 107

The Los Angeles Clippers had their six-game winning streak come to an end with a 125-113 loss at Utah on Saturday but are heading home to try and prove they belong in the postseason discussion. The Clippers will play consecutive games against teams in the top four of their respective conferences at home this week, beginning with a visit from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Los Angeles, which hosts Eastern Conference-leading Boston on Wednesday, counted wins over Golden State and Houston during the surge that brought them into the top eight in the West but could not overcome a poor start on the defensive end Saturday against the Jazz. "Honestly, we just didn't have it," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters after the loss. "I thought they played a lot harder than us, which I rarely say." The Timberwolves hit the road with some momentum after knocking off the Toronto Raptors 115-109 on Saturday despite being without star swingman Jimmy Butler (knee) and sixth man Jamal Crawford (toe). "We talked about it before the game," Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "If you're in this league, you're a great player. So, when someone is out, it's an opportunity for someone else to step in. If we play hard, we have a chance. Our guys did that."

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS North (Minnesota), FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (30-18): Minnesota is enjoying a nine-game winning streak at home but dropped its last four on the road, where it will play the next three games and five of six to close January. The Timberwolves were in danger of that home winning streak coming to an end while going into the half down eight points on Saturday, but Karl-Anthony Towns scored all 22 of his points after the break and Andrew Wiggins scored 29 to put the team in the win column without Butler. Both Crawford, who spent the previous five seasons with the Clippers, and Butler are considered day-to-day.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (23-22): Minnesota could use Butler on the defensive end against Clippers guard Lou Williams, who scored 31 points in Saturday's loss and is averaging 30.1 points in 10 games this month. Williams became the first NBA player since steals were first introduced as a statistic in 1973-74 to record at least 30 points, 10 steals and seven assists in a game when he broke the franchise record -- previously held by coach Rivers (nine) -- for steals in a game with 10 on Saturday. "That's pretty cool," Williams told reporters when informed of the record. "I'm sure they'll create more stats for people to break."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Timberwolves SG Marcus Georges-Hunt recorded career highs in points (12) and minutes (29) on Saturday.

2. Clippers C DeAndre Jordan (ankle) missed the last four games and remains day-to-day.

3. Minnesota took the first two meetings of the season, including a 113-107 win at Los Angeles on Dec. 6.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 112, Clippers 105