Game Preview #19: Timberwolves vs. Clippers

The Wolves look to snap their four-game losing streak when they face off against the Clippers. Can Minnesota seal the deal on Black Friday and get their season going in the right direction?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Date: November 29th, 2024
Time: 6:30PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves at a Crossroads: Time to Stop the Bleeding Against the Clippers

Wolves fans, how’s your post-Thanksgiving recovery going? Did the pumpkin pie help you digest that brutal fourth-quarter collapse against Sacramento? Maybe the turkey gave you the kind of coma that helps you forget the current state of this team. Because let’s face it: watching the Timberwolves blow another winnable game and extend their losing streak to four felt like skipping dessert and going straight to a plate of cold Brussels sprouts.

Here’s the deal: no matter what happens tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Wolves will enter December with a losing record. That’s not what we envisioned when the season tipped off. Eight and ten wasn’t the script. This was supposed to be the year the Wolves built on their Western Conference Finals run, shook off the Karl-Anthony Towns trade drama, and came together as a new, cohesive unit. Instead, we’re watching a team that can’t close games, has questionable effort on defense, and is teetering on the edge of becoming a full-blown locker room soap opera.

Cracks in the Foundation

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Anthony Edwards’ post-game comments. After the Sacramento loss, Ant called out the team for their lack of effort and focus. That’s the kind of thing you expect from a leader, sure—but it also signals deeper problems. Is this just early-season frustration, or are we staring at a locker room ready to implode?

The signs have been there. Rudy Gobert’s three-second violation tantrum in Toronto wasn’t just a one-off. Julius Randle’s lack of defensive effort has been glaring. And the team’s tendency to dig itself into double-digit holes only to fight back, tie the game, and collapse again in crunch time is like watching the basketball version of Groundhog Day.

The Optimist’s Take: A Few Tweaks Could Change Everything

If you’re feeling optimistic (and let’s be real, we’re clinging to optimism like a life raft), the Wolves aren’t as far off as their record suggests. Most of their ten losses were winnable games. Flip just a few of those into the win column, and this team is sitting at 12-6 or 13-5, a respectable spot near the top of the Western Conference. That’s the maddening part: the talent is there, but the execution isn’t.

A Golden Opportunity Tonight

Enter the Clippers. A team traveling on Thanksgiving weekend, probably still digesting their stuffing, and without several key players. Kawhi Leonard, PJ Tucker, and Kobe Brown are all out. Norman Powell, their leading scorer, is questionable. Meanwhile, the Wolves are (mostly) healthy. Mike Conley is back, and Joe Ingles—barely a blip on the rotation radar—is the only player listed on the injury report.

If there were ever a time to snap the skid and right the ship, this is it. The Wolves have no excuses tonight. It’s a home game against a shorthanded opponent. It’s also their final NBA Cup group game, though at this point, their chances of advancing are as cooked as your Thanksgiving turkey. What’s left to play for is pride, momentum, and avoiding the embarrassment of finishing last in their group.

Keys to Victory: Defense, Lineups, and Ant Stepping Up

1. Julius Randle Has to Try on Defense

Look, we all know Randle’s offensive game can be a weapon when he’s on. But his defense has been abysmal. I’m talking Statue of Liberty-level stillness, blown rotations, and lazy closeouts. If the Wolves want to stop bleeding points, it starts with Randle at least pretending to care on defense.

2. Point Guard Presence

Mike Conley’s return is huge, and Rob Dillingham has shown flashes of being the dynamic guard this team desperately needs. The ball movement and offensive flow are night and day when one of them is on the court compared to when Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Donte DiVincenzo are running the offense. Finch needs to make sure one of Conley or Dillingham are in the game at all times.

3. Hit Your Threes, Please

Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo, I’m looking at you. Jaden gets a pass because three-point shooting isn’t his bread and butter, but if you’re wide open in the corner, you have to hit something. Donte, however, was supposed to be the sniper from deep, and lately, he’s been bricking shots like it’s his side hustle. If DiVincenzo can’t find his shot, it’s time for Finch to limit his minutes and prioritize players who can contribute elsewhere.

4. Anthony Edwards Needs to Be the Leader

This is Ant’s team now. Towns is gone. The spotlight is firmly on Edwards, and he has to own it. He spent the summer with LeBron, Curry, and KD, learning what it takes to lead. Now’s the time to apply it. Being vocal in post-game interviews is fine, but Ant needs to rally his teammates, demand accountability, and be the driving force on the court. This offense should run through him, period.

Looking Ahead

Let’s be honest: the schedule isn’t getting any easier. After tonight, the Wolves start a December full of tough matchups against Golden State, Oklahoma City, and the always-pesky Dallas Mavericks. If they can’t win at home against a depleted Clippers squad, what hope is there against those teams?

The Wolves have the talent to turn this around. The question is, do they have the effort, focus, and leadership to make it happen? Tonight’s game won’t fix everything, but it’s a chance to stop the bleeding, end the month on a high note, and set the tone for December.

If they lose? Well, I’ll be here, ready to write another article questioning everything we thought we knew about this team. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Game on, Wolves. Let’s see what you’ve got.