Editors’ note 2/26/26 4:00 PM ET: Kahwi Leonard has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Clippers are hosting the Timberwolves on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Minnesota is favored by 5.5 points and this game carries a total of 225.5 points.
Let’s dive into my preview and pick for the game.
Clippers vs. Timberwolves Preview
Its been a rollercoaster season for the Clippers. After a terrible start, the team was one of the hottest teams in the NBA for a stretch. Then, Los Angeles decided to unload both James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, signaling the organization doesn’t believe the team will contend this year. The Clippers received Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin and draft picks in return and while Mathurin has fit in nicely, scoring at least 21 in three straight, Garland has yet to make his team debut as he nurses a toe injury.
All in all, the Clippers are 27-30 this season and rank 17th in net rating. Since the All-Star break, they have lost two nail biters to the Lakers and the Magic. Kawhi Leonard scored over 30 points in both of these losses and the two-time NBA Finals MVP is averaging a career-high 28 PPG this season, but Leonard can only do so much. The forward is questionable tonight with an ankle injury, but he has played through this designation often recently and Leonard should suit up tonight, given the Clippers haven’t played since last Sunday and then won’t play again until this coming Sunday.
Leonard and Mathurin will continue to lead the way for Los Angeles and while this Timberwolves team they are facing has won four of their last five, the Clippers did just easily beat Minnesota on it’s home floor on February 8th, 115-96. This was notably with Harden and Zubac traded, but Mathurin yet to join the club and Leonard went off for 41 points that night. However, this did feel like a random, bad day for the Timberwolves and in order for Los Angeles to pick up another win in this matchup, Leonard will need to have another huge effort tonight.
Minnesota is 36-23 and ranks ninth in net rating this season. The club ranks top-10 in both offensive and defensive rating. Four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert is the key to the Timberwolves’ defense and on offense, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are the centerpieces, leading the team with 29.6 and 21.9 PPG, respectively.
After getting blowout by the Clippers just a few weeks ago, the Timberwolves should be highly motivated to get revenge tonight and this should be a competitive affair.
Clippers vs. Timberwolves Pick, Best Bet
At this point of the season, the Timberwolves are the clear better team over the Clippers and Minnesota should get the win tonight. That being said, Los Angeles shouldn’t go down easy and Minnesota covering this 5.5-point spread could difficult, especially given it’s track record this season.
The Timberwolves are just 25-34 ATS and they are just 12-16 ATS on the road. On the other hand, the Clippers are 18-11 ATS as an underdog, and they should be able to cover on their home floor.
