Clippers at Timberwolves Game Thread

Clippers at Wolves
7:00 pm CST
FS North

Chris Paul and Ricky Rubio is always a fun match up and we get to see it again tonight as the Clippers visit Target Center following an afternoon win yesterday in Chicago against the Bulls. Matt Barnes was injured during that game and his availability for tonight is unknown.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have been without Blake Griffin for a month following his surgery to remove a leg infection. The Clippers struggled without him for a while, but have won six of their last eight games and are currently sitting 5th in the Western Conference at 39-21 overall.

They have the top ranked offense in the league, driven by good 3 point shooting (4th in the league), free throw attempts (3rd) and remarkable jump shooting from the mid-range. In other words, even without Griffin, they have a diverse offense with multiple weapons that is very difficult to stop.

Expect a fairly high paced game, as both teams are among the fastest 10 teams in the league. For the Wolves to stay in this one they will have to make their free throws (something of a problem recently), as the Clippers tend to commit a lot of fouls. They will also have to find a way to control the glass at both ends.

After only one meeting so far this year (a 127-101 Clippers blowout three months ago), these teams will meet on consecutive Mondays, with the Wolves in L.A. next week.

For the Wolves, Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin are both listed as questionable out; Pek's ankle is sore and Kevin Martin is ill.

It's awesome that Zachary has been around all day today:

Pek didn't participate in shootaround. Frustrated, he says he'll try a workout between now and tip-off. Status for tonight is uncertain.

— Zachary Bennett (@ZacharyBD) March 2, 2015

Pekovic is out on the floor, shooting, but still no word on if he'll go tonight. He seemed (really) frustrated this morning.

— Zachary Bennett (@ZacharyBD) March 2, 2015

UPDATE: Gary Neal will start in place of Kevin Martin.

Expected lineups

Clippers

Chris Paul
J.J. Redick
Matt Barnes (questionable) Austin Rivers?
Spencer Hawes
DeAndre Jordan

Wolves

Ricky Rubio
Kevin Martin Gary Neal
Andrew Wiggins
Kevin Garnett
Gorgui Dieng

Here's a link to our blogging buddies at Clips Nation. No matter how many obnoxious flops there are by CPIII, please be excellent.

Please no pics, gifs, or links to any illegal streams in the game thread.

Enjoy. Chat. Go.