Los Angeles Clippers (24-27, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (32-21, sixth in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Los Angeles Clippers in Western Conference action Sunday.
The Timberwolves are 18-16 in Western Conference games. Minnesota scores 119.5 points and has outscored opponents by 4.7 points per game.
The Clippers are 14-15 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is 3-6 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Timberwolves are shooting 48.1% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.6% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers average 112.3 points per game, 2.5 fewer than the 114.8 the Timberwolves give up to opponents.
The teams meet for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Dec. 7 the Timberwolves won 109-106 led by 27 points from Jaden McDaniels, while Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points for the Clippers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.3 points over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is scoring 7.8 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 20.4 points and 4.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 117.3 points, 46.3 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 6.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.7 points, 43.3 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Julian Phillips: day to day (wrist), Terrence Shannon Jr.: day to day (foot), Ayo Dosunmu: day to day (quadriceps).
Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin: day to day (not injury related), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: day to day (illness), Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (not injury related).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New York Knicks (33-19, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (34-18, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Boston seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Celtics take on New York.
The Celtics are 23-12 against conference opponents. Boston has a 5-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Knicks are 22-12 in Eastern Conference play. New York averages 117.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.2 points per game.
The Celtics score 115.6 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 112.3 the Knicks allow. The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 14.0 per game the Celtics give up.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Celtics won 123-117 in the last matchup on Dec. 3. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 42 points, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 35 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 20 points and five assists over the last 10 games.
Jalen Brunson is scoring 27.1 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 110.9 points, 47.5 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.
Knicks: 8-2, averaging 113.6 points, 48.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).
Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (eye), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Jose Alvarado: day to day (not injury related), Miles McBride: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.