Timberwolves open NBA Cup play vs. Clippers needing a reset after two close losses

The Minnesota Timberwolves start their NBA Cup schedule Friday at Target Center against the Los Angeles Clippers, and they need a win more than the Cup standings do. A 3-0 start has turned into 3-2 after a two-point loss in Cleveland and a five-point home loss to Golden State. Both games came early in Anthony Edwards' absence, and both were decided late.

Troy Asseln's preview for SB Nation's Canis Hoopus puts most of the slide on two players. Rudy Gobert led the league at 68.2 percent shooting last season, yet he has gone 0-for-13 from the floor over the last two games. He did grab 20 rebounds in Cleveland, but Asseln called him a nonfactor against the Warriors. LaMelo Ball is still setting teammates up at 6.6 assists per game. He is also averaging a career-low 13.4 points and 3.8 turnovers per game, which ties his career high. With Edwards out, Asseln wrote, the team "will go as he goes." Asseln also points to poor free-throw shooting and a crowded opening schedule: five games in seven days through Wednesday.

The loss to Golden State did leave Chris Finch some useful material. Jaylen Clark was a plus-8 in seven minutes, much of it guarding Stephen Curry. Joan Beringer went 3-for-3 with 10 rebounds in 19 minutes, and Bones Hyland scored 13 in 16 minutes. If Gobert keeps struggling, expect more calls for Beringer to take some of the center minutes. Brook Lopez is the Clippers' main rim protector, so Friday is a good night for Gobert to get going again. Kris Dunn's physical on-ball defense will test Ball's ball security.

What it means for Friday

On paper, this is a good spot for Minnesota to stop the slide. The Clippers come in 1-3 and have lost three straight, according to FanDuel Research. The Wolves have been dominant when they get going. Their three wins came by 25, 22 and 23 points, over Miami, Orlando and Toronto. The two losses came by a combined seven. Athlon Sports notes that both teams have held opponents to about 108 points per game. It also points out that Los Angeles won the last meeting 153-128 last March.

The market has Minnesota as a clear favorite despite the losing streak. On this site's board, which tracks 12 venues, Novig has the Wolves favored at -245 on the moneyline, with the Clippers at +233. FanDuel Research listed Los Angeles at a shorter +215. On the spread, Novig has Minnesota favored by 6.5 at -106. Other venues are a full point higher: the best Clippers number anywhere is +7.5 at -112 at BetRivers. The total is also split by a point, 223.5 at Novig and 222.5 at bet365, where the over is -114. Sportsbook hold runs from 2.3 to 5.1 percent on the moneyline. So the venues agree on the favorite but disagree by up to a point on the margin.

A comfortable win would ease some of the frustration among fans. A third straight close loss to a team that has lost three in a row would turn the attention back to Gobert and Ball.