Kevin McHale really likes Kevin Love

Kevin McHale sees the rebounding ability, the basketball instincts and the unceasing effort and can’t believe Kevin Love is only a rookie.

“He’s so far advanced for a 20-year-old it’s ridiculous,� the Minnesota Timberwolves coach said of Love, the former UCLA center who is in the midst of his best month in the NBA.

Love, an NBA forward listed at 6 feet 10, is averaging 11.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in January following Minnesota’s 94-86 victory Monday over the Clippers at Staples Center.

Though Love couldn’t match those numbers against the Clippers -- he had six points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes -- he showed flashes of why he’s becoming one of Minnesota’s top reserves.

There was a trademark two-handed outlet pass, a one-handed layup while having his other arm tugged on by the Clippers’ Steve Novak and, perhaps most telling of his effort, a sequence in which he missed a dunk and two follow shots but never gave up on the play.

“It’s just confidence and finding myself out there,� Love, who is averaging 8.4 points and 8.3 rebounds for the season, said when asked what had triggered his recent uptick in production. “. . . Working hard in practice and getting in the weight room. That confidence really helps me.�

McHale said he envisioned Love becoming a “better-rebounding Mehmet Okur-type guy,� a reference to the Utah Jazz center, an All-Star in 2007.

“When he blends his instincts with the knowledge of the NBA game . . . that’s when he’s really going to take off,� McHale said.

Etc.

The Clippers signed guard Fred Jones to a second 10-day contract. He is averaging 6.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 22.3 minutes in 10 games with the team.

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