La Clippers (9-4) at Minnesota (7-5) 8:00 pm EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Sam Cassell faces off against his former team once again when the surprising Los Angeles Clippers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Tuesday.

A key member of the Minnesota squad that reached the Western Conference finals in 2004, Cassell was dealt to the Clippers in the offseason after a contract dispute with the Timberwolves' front office.

Cassell has been instrumental in leading Los Angeles to a first-place start over the first four weeks of the season. The veteran guard is averaging 15.9 points and 7.3 assists over his first 13 games.

Cassell will need to deliver a big performance against his former club if the Clippers want to snap their seven-game skid at Target Center. Los Angeles has dropped two in a row and has not won here since a 108-99 victory on March 11, 2002.

After posting a thrilling 100-99 triumph over the Timberwolves at Staples Center on November 5, the Clippers dropped a 93-78 decision here two days later. Cassell struggled in the home-and-home series, averaging just 11.5 points while shooting 28 percent (8-for-29) from the floor.

Minnesota has played well recently, winning four of its last five games.

The Timberwolves won their second in a row with an 89-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Troy Hudson added 18 points off the bench for Minnesota, which rallied from a late deficit in the contest.