Timberwolves beat Clippers 127-101, end two-game skid before Spurs trip

The Minnesota Timberwolves ended a two-game losing streak Friday night with a 127-101 win over the LA Clippers at home, according to ESPN. The 26-point margin moves Minnesota to 4-2 and ends a short dip that started with a two-point loss at Cleveland and continued with a five-point home loss to Golden State.

The result fits the pattern of Minnesota's first two weeks. Each of its four wins has come by more than 20 points: 26 over Miami, 22 over Orlando, 23 over Toronto and now 26 over the Clippers. Its two losses were decided by a combined seven points. Across six games the Wolves are scoring 121.5 points and allowing 106.7, a margin of nearly 15 points a night. Few teams can match that this early, even if two close losses keep the record from showing it.

The Clippers were the first team in a week that Minnesota held near 100 points. Cleveland scored 127 and Golden State 119. Toronto, Orlando and Miami all stayed between 93 and 106. ESPN's highlight package covers the night, and more game coverage came from USA Today, Yahoo Sports and theScore. The Wolves are now 2-1 at home and 2-1 on the road. Follow the season on our Timberwolves team page.

What it means for San Antonio

There is no rest after the win. Minnesota plays at the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, the second night of a back-to-back, with the game on NBA League Pass and the regional DAZN feeds in both markets.

The market treats the Spurs as clear favorites. On the board for the game, which tracks 12 venues, Novig has San Antonio favored at -525 on the moneyline, with Minnesota at +488. That is a steep price against a team that has outscored its opponents by almost 15 points a game. The board does not say why. The road back-to-back explains part of it, and the rest may depend on who suits up Saturday night.

The spread says the same thing. Novig lists the Spurs at -12.5 (+102) and the Wolves at +12.5 (-108). The widest number on the board belongs to BetRivers, which has Minnesota at +13.5 for -117. FanDuel offers San Antonio at a shorter -11.5 for -115. So the venues differ by about two points on the line, and the sportsbook hold on the spread runs from 3.0% to 4.9%. On the moneyline the hold ranges from 3.9% to 5.7%.

The total sits at 226.5 on Novig, with the over at -102 and the under at -104. Hard Rock Bet has the highest number at 227.5, with the under at -115. Minnesota has gone over 226 combined points in three of its six games, including the losses to Cleveland and Golden State.

If the Wolves bring the lineup that just beat the Clippers by 26, Saturday will test whether the market has priced in more fatigue than this team has shown so far.