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Clippers Bench Shines in 120-109 Win Over Wolves

Clippers

With losses in their last six consecutive meetings, the Los Angeles Clippers came into Staples Center Monday night with hopes of changing their recent luck against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Prior to tipoff however injuries appeared that they would harm Los Angeles’ chances of snapping the Wolves streak. Starting guard Avery Bradley and defensive ace Luc Mbah a Moute were ruled out while Minnesota’s two questionable players Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose were cleared to play.

Early on the Clippers lack of defensive stoppers was evident but luckily for them the Wolves struggled on that end of the floor as well. Tobias Harris was clicking right from the opening tip and never cooled off. Harris finished the night tied for the game-high in points with 22 alongside Danilo Gallinari and also managed 10 rebounds netting him a double-double. Harris was feeling his stroke from beyond the arc and would go 4-7 from long range.

While Harris was throwing haymakers for Los Angeles, Karl-Anthony Towns was countering back for Minnesota. Towns had a double-double by halftime and the Clippers seemingly had no answers for stopping the big man. Clippers starting Center Boban Marjanovic isn’t nimble enough to keep up with the athletic All-Star and Montrezl Harrell and Danilo Gallinari aren’t strong enough. This allowed Towns to get what he wanted around the basket and he cashed in to the tune of 20 points and 12 rebounds while also locking down the paint defensively with 4 blocks.

It takes more than stars to win games though and the Clippers knew early on they had an edge with their bench. Entering the game with one the leagues best offensive bench units, they would have an opportunity when the bench units squared off to separate and in this one that’s exactly what happened. Two-time sixth man of the year Lou Williams helped out in a myriad of ways with 20 points and 6 assists alongside fellow benchmate Montrezl Harrell who closed out his night with 13 points and 7 rebounds. They even got some help from two guys they haven’t needed much in the early going Mike Scott and Jerome Robinson. Scott finishing up with 8 points and 4 boards and the rookie Robinson with 2 three pointers netting him 6 points.

A late flurry of scoring from Gallinari helped the Clippers pull away in the waning minutes of this one, edging out the Wolves for the 120-109 victory.

This loss keeps Minnesota winless on the road so far this season and moves Los Angeles to 6-4 with the victory. The team will get a bit of a break before heading to Portland to take on the Blazers Thursday in what promises to be an exciting offensive versus defensive guard matchup.

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