Timberwolves-Clippers Preview

A month ago, the Los Angeles Clippers appeared to be getting their season turned around, while the Minnesota Timberwolves were in the midst of an awful stretch.

Those roles have since been reversed.

The Timberwolves look to win for the seventh time in eight games on Monday when they visit the Clippers, who are trying to build off their first victory in a month.

Minnesota (12-26) defeated Phoenix 105-103 on Friday, as Randy Foye made a 20-foot jumper with 1:58 remaining -- and one second left on the shot clock -- that put the Timberwolves up by a point and ahead to stay.

Minnesota has been playing much better lately, as it has won six of seven, and eight of 11 after losing its previous 13 games.

The Timberwolves' offense has been the biggest reason for their turnaround. They're averaging 106.3 points on 41.1 percent shooting from 3-point range in their last 11 games after averaging 91.2 points on 28.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc during their skid.

"The guys have been battling and we've won a couple down the stretch," Minnesota coach Kevin McHale said. "When you win a couple of them you know that you can."

Kevin Love had another stellar performance on Friday, as he finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Love, the fifth overall pick of the 2008 draft, is averaging 12.1 points on 52.6 percent shooting and 11.0 rebounds in seven games this month after averaging 3.7 points on 29.2 percent shooting and 6.0 boards in his final seven games of December.

"For a 20-year-old kid, that guy rebounds the ball at such a high level it's ridiculous," McHale said. "I keep forgetting he's 20 at times."

Love had 13 points and 15 rebounds in Minnesota's 107-84 loss to Los Angeles (9-30) on Dec. 6.

Al Jefferson, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds on Friday, finished with 28 points and eight rebounds in the loss to the Clippers last month. He is averaging 25.6 points and 12.0 rebounds in five games versus Los Angeles since the start of last season.

While the Timberwolves have been improving, the Clippers are hoping to carry some momentum from Saturday's 101-92 win over Milwaukee that snapped a 12-game losing streak.

Los Angeles, which had won five of seven immediately before its skid, managed to play through the adversity caused by Marcus Camby's sprained left ankle in the fourth quarter.

"I was really pleased with the way our guys responded, particularly in the fourth quarter after Marcus went down," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said.

Los Angeles played the final 8:53 without Camby after he landed awkwardly with a rebound of Steve Novak's missed jumper and crumpled to the floor. X-rays were negative, but Camby, the NBA's second-leading rebounder (13.8), has been listed as day-to-day.

The Clippers, already down to 10 healthy players because of injuries to Zach Randolph, Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Mike Taylor and Jason Hart, can ill afford to lose Camby for extended time.

"It's just kind of the way that the season is going for us," Dunleavy said. "The good news is, it's not as bad as it looked like when I first went out there."