Timberwolves see George as big test

MINNEAPOLIS — For all the strides the Timberwolves made this season on both ends of the floor, proving themselves as a team on the rise with plenty of untapped potential, their entry into the NBA playoffs has still yet to be secured.

Paul George and the Clippers present a significant roadblock.

“He takes them to a whole other level,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.

The confident team that reached the Western Conference finals last year — and beat the Wolves three times in November when George was healthy — has the seven-time All-Star back in the lineup after a three-month absence with an elbow injury.

The Clippers visit the Wolves on Tuesday night in a play-in game for the No. 7 seed and a first-round date with the Grizzlies.

The loser must turn around and beat the Spurs-Pelicans winner to get the No. 8 seed and a matchup with the league-leading Suns, or else begin their offseason with the rest of the lottery-bound teams.

“We stop Paul George, we win the game,” said Anthony Edwards, who will likely have the primary responsibility of guarding the 12-year veteran wing.

George had 76 points, 25 rebounds, 18 assists and four steals over those three earlier victories by 11, 20 and 27 points. The Wolves won by 18 in the last matchup in January when George was out.

The Clippers, who finished four games behind the Wolves, have measurably more postseason experience to counteract the home-court advantage.

“I don’t really believe in that,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “One game, anyone can get hot or we could have a bad shooting night.

“We can’t ease into the game. We’ve got to be ready to go from the jump.”

The Clippers recently welcomed back another integral player, Norman Powell, from a broken foot that sidelined him for 22 games shortly after he was acquired in a trade with Portland.

“We’re in a good place,” Lue said. “Got to continue playing the right way.”

The Wolves only have Karl-Anthony Towns left from their 2017-18 team that lost in the first round to the Rockets, the only appearance in the playoffs since 2004 for the long-woebegone franchise. The fans have begun to come back and make the arena loud again, with Towns, Edwards and the rest of the roster giving them reasons to repeat their visits.

“This is a great sports town,” said Finch, who signed a multi-year contract extension Monday. “If you play hard and you play the right way and you do the right things, they’ll support you.”

Well-versed

The addition of defensive ace and emotional leader Patrick Beverley this season has given the Wolves a big boost, and he’s conveniently the most knowledgeable person in the organization about the ins and outs of the Clippers. Beverley spent the previous four seasons with the Clippers. Two trades — the first one to the Grizzlies — sent him to the Wolves.

“He talks a lot of trash, but he can back it all up,” Towns said. “So shoutout to him, what he’s done, what he’s brought this team.”

Rough stuff

The Clippers were able to disrupt Towns and his flow with the offense in their matchups this season, one of the first opponents to find success by sending a smaller forward — in their case, Nicolas Batum — to defend the All-Star center with a physical approach to the post.

“The Batum wrestling match” was how Finch described it, with a wry smile.