wolves gameday

7 p.m. vs. L.A. Clippers • Target Center • FSN, 830-AM

Preview: The 39-21 Clippers are 6-3 in their past nine games without star forward Blake Griffin, who has been sidelined since Feb. 8 because of elbow surgery needed to stop a staph infection. They won convincingly, 97-79, at Memphis on Friday and beat the injury-depleted Bulls 96-86 Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Monday's game ends a four-game Midwestern swing that started with a loss at Houston. … The Clippers have won the past 10 games between the teams — including the five consecutive at Target Center — and won the season's first meeting 127-101 at Staples Center on Dec. 1. … Monday's game brings together good pals Flip Saunders and Clippers coach Doc Rivers. Saunders joined Rivers' Boston team as an adviser during the 2012 playoffs when he was between jobs.

Players: The Clippers have compensated for the loss of one superstar (Griffin) with another, center DeAndre Jordan. Or at least Jordan is playing like one in Griffin's absence. He entered Sunday's game at Chicago having averaged 18.4 points and 19.7 rebounds in his past seven games and then had a nine-point, 26-rebound game against the Bulls. He also owns the league's longest streak of games played, at 300. … Clippers point guard Chris Paul has reached 12,500 career points and 6,500 assists in the fourth-fewest games in history. Only Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas have done it faster.

Injuries: Wolves C Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is questionable, F Anthony Bennett (sprained ankle), F Shabazz Muhammad (finger surgery) and F Robbie Hummel (fractured hand) all are out. Clippers F Griffin (elbow surgery) is out, F Matt Barnes (hamstring) is doubtful.

JERRY ZGODA