LA Clippers at Minnesota

[Real Deal]

TIME: 8:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Real Deal]

With their All-Star point guard banged up, the Los Angeles Clippers have struggled on the road lately. Perhaps it's not the best time for their longest trip of the season.

 

They open the eight-game swing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have had to deal with their own injuries and adversity during a long slump.

 

The Clippers try to avoid a fourth straight road loss Wednesday night when they face a Timberwolves team that will have its coach back after a three-week absence.

 

Los Angeles (33-13) won its first three games after Chris Paul went down with a bruised right kneecap, but it has dropped three of its last four without him.

 

While he returned for two games, Paul had to be shut down again after finishing with a season-low four points and shooting 1 of 7 in a 104-96 loss to Golden State on Jan. 21.

 

The point guard is day-to-day and coach Vinny Del Negro said there is no timetable for his return.

 

Eric Bledsoe will continue to fill Paul's role as the Clippers try to avoid dropping four in a row on the road for the first time since Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 25, 2012.

 

In seven starts since Paul's injury, Bledsoe has averaged 11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

 

Bledsoe played 36 minutes without committing a turnover as Los Angeles stopped a four-game slide with a 96-83 win over Portland on Sunday. He's had three or fewer turnovers in six of the seven starts.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/preview/NBA_20130130_LAC@MIN

[Sħãlïq™]

Bledsoe with prolly the best game of his career... Unbelievable!