Two teams coming off big wins lock horns as the Los Angeles Clippers host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night.
The Clippers, courtesy a great effort in the second half held off the challenge of the Houston Rockets in a 107-94 victory, and will now be aiming for their third straight home win against the Wolves.
Doc Rivers and co. managed to top the Rockets thanks to a supreme defensive effort and the Clippers will look to continue that against Minnesota, who have lost five straight against LA.
"They [the Rockets] are just like us," Rivers said. "We are both going to be a lot better later. They need time to figure it out. We need time to figure it out. It's early in the season. We know that.
"They know that. At the end of the year, the Rockets are going to be a hell of a basketball team. At the end of the year, I am hoping we are going to be a hell of a basketball team."
The Wolves, though, are coming off the back of an impressive 113-90 win over the LA Lakers, a team they hadn't beaten in 22 previous games; so the five-game losing streak against the Clipper will be far from daunting.
"Everybody was making shots," said Rubio, who recorded a triple double in the win over the Lakers. "We knew we'd lost the last 22 or something like that. It was a good game for us to end it."
Minnesota are aiming for their sixth win in eight games, which would be their best start to the season since a 9-1 opening in 2001-02.
The Clippers, while trying to keep Rubio quiet, will also have their hands full with Kevin Love, who is averaging 26.9 points, 14.4 assists and 4.7 assists this season.
Love was the main man the last time Minnesota defeated the Clippers - on 5 March, 2012 -- with 39 points and 17 rebounds and the Wolves will be hoping for more of the same from their star come Monday.
Where to watch
The game is scheduled for a 9 am IST start with live coverage on Sony Six.
