MINNEAPOLIS — In a thrilling comeback, the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from a 19-point deficit in the first half to secure a 108-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Anthony Edwards was instrumental in the win, contributing 28 of his total 37 points in the second half alone, showcasing his ability to take control when it mattered most.
Edwards, who scored a career-high 53 points in a recent loss to Detroit, finished the game hitting 14 of his 29 shots from the field, including two crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes. This performance marked his eighth game this season where he has scored over 30 points.
Supporting Edwards, Naz Reid provided a strong contribution with 18 points off the bench, while Donte DiVincenzo added 15 as the Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak. Rudy Gobert played a significant role defensively, grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds along with his eight points.
On the Clippers’ side, Norman Powell led the team with 25 points, while James Harden contributed 22 points. Ivica Zubac notched a double-double with 17 points and 16 boards, but the Clippers suffered their third loss in four games.
In a crucial moment of the game, with the Timberwolves trailing by one point, Edwards hit a step-back 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining on the clock. Following a missed layup by Zubac, Edwards sunk another 3-pointer, extending Minnesota’s lead to 106-101 with just 34.4 seconds left.
In his second game back after missing the first 34 due to a right knee injury, Kawhi Leonard scored eight points for the Clippers on a challenging 3-of-11 shooting night, alongside two assists and rebounds in 20 minutes of play.
For the Timberwolves, DiVincenzo stepped in as the point guard while Mike Conley came off the bench for the first time in his tenure with Minnesota. Conley, now in his 18th season, has been struggling this season, averaging only 8.0 points per game and shooting at a career-low rate of 34.9%. He ended the game with 11 points.
A significant turnaround occurred with the Clippers holding a 96-91 lead with 4:07 left. However, a three-point play followed by a 3-pointer from Edwards shifted the momentum, putting the Timberwolves ahead.
Notably, Julius Randle, averaging 20.1 points per game, managed to score only five points on a disappointing 2-of-10 shooting night, failing to make any of his three attempts from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will face the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, while the Timberwolves are set to take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
