Preview: The teams meet for the first time since Kevin Love hit the dramatic, three-point buzzer beater to beat the Clippers 101-98 in L.A. last month. The big difference this time: Clippers guard Chris Paul is back after missing five games in mid-January because of a strained hamstring. ... The Clippers are 20-11 and lead the Pacific Division. ... The Wolves won four of their past five games heading into the break. They are 17-17. ... There really is another NBA team in L.A. now: The Clippers have sold out all 16 home games so far this season and have a 28-game streak going, dating to Feb. 2, 2011.
Players to watch: Paul and Blake Griffin started Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Griffin had 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting, eight rebounds and three assists in more than 31 minutes; Paul had eight points and a game-high 12 assists in 31 minutes. ... Paul has stolen the ball at least once in each of the past 35 games, dating to last season. That's the longest current streak in the league. He had a 108-game streak from April 2007 to Dec. 2008.
Injuries: Wolves G Malcolm Lee hasn't played yet in his rookie season because of Dec. 30 surgery to repair a torn meniscus tendon in his knee. ... Clippers G Chauncey Billups is out for the season because of a torn Achilles' tendon.
JERRY ZGODA
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