Game Preview #35 – Timberwolves vs. Clippers

The Wolves look to get back to their winning ways and snap a three-game losing streak when they head home to face the Clippers. Can the Wolves find cohesion and put together a 48-minute effort to notch a win?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Date: January 6th, 2025
Time: :00 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Wolves Look to Shake Off Detroit Disaster Against Clippers at Target Center

If you’re still trying to recover from Saturday’s debacle in Detroit, take a moment to breathe. The Timberwolves will need more than just a deep exhale to rebound from one of their most frustrating defensive efforts of the season. Up next? The Los Angeles Clippers—a team that the Wolves have already beaten twice this year. But here’s the catch: after three straight losses and one epic Anthony Edwards performance wasted, this one feels pivotal. Like, “Do we believe in this team or not?” pivotal.

Detroit Déjà Vu: A New Low

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off quickly: Saturday’s game was embarrassing. The Wolves got roasted down low, diced up from beyond the arc, and turned into defensive statues while Detroit—Detroit!—ran layup drills. And this wasn’t the Pistons of the mid-2000s, with Ben Wallace throwing elbows and Rip Hamilton draining midrange daggers. This is the Pistons team sitting below .500, on the second night of a back-to-back, yet they turned Minnesota into the Washington Generals for a night.

Anthony Edwards put up a ridiculous 53 points. Fifty-three! And somehow, it felt irrelevant because the rest of the team might as well have stayed on the bus. Rudy Gobert? Invisible. Julius Randle? Disconnected. The wings? Late to every closeout like they’d been caught in a Minnesota snowstorm.

It was the type of loss that makes you question everything. The type of loss that brings up memories of those nights in the early 2010s when Ricky Rubio’s only help was Nikola Peković and a prayer. But here’s the thing: the Wolves have the talent to be so much better. And the Clippers game represents an opportunity to prove that.

Clippers at Target Center: A Must-Win Matchup

The Clippers roll into town with their own track record of up-and-down play. They aren’t exactly lighting the world on fire. That said, the Clippers are dangerous—they have the potential for offensive explosion, and if you don’t bring the defensive intensity, they’ll bury you. The Wolves have already taken two games from the Clippers this season. But as we’ve seen repeatedly, this team doesn’t handle success well. They get complacent. So, what do they need to do to turn the page after the Detroit disaster?

Keys to the Game

1. Defense, Defense, Defense

Defense is supposed to be this team’s identity. Where was that on Saturday? The Wolves allowed Detroit to waltz into the paint uncontested. Gobert needs to step up and assert his presence down low—no more free rebounds, no more easy layups. He’s being paid to anchor this defense, and it’s time to see that happen consistently.

The Clippers can score in a hurry, and if Minnesota isn’t locked in on closing out shooters, it’ll be another long night. The wings—Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and even Ant—have to bring the intensity, stay glued to the perimeter, and deny LA’s shooters the space to operate.

2. Spread the Offensive Load

Anthony Edwards cannot drop another 50-piece only to see the Wolves lose. It’s criminal. Julius Randle needs to step up and bring his bully ball back to the paint. Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, and the bench mob all need to contribute. The Wolves are at their best when the ball is moving and everyone is involved—when it doesn’t turn into “give the ball to Ant and hope for the best.”

The Clippers’ defense is beatable, especially if the Wolves can push the tempo and create mismatches in transition. But if the offense devolves into isolation-heavy hero ball, it’s going to be another ugly one.

3. Control the Glass

Detroit dominated Minnesota on the boards, and that can’t happen again. The Clippers don’t have a dominant rebounder, but they’re scrappy. Gobert and Randle need to crash the glass with authority, and everyone else needs to box out. Second-chance points have been killers for the Wolves all season, and they need to start limiting them.

4. Energy and Effort

This one sounds obvious, but it hasn’t been a given for this team. The Wolves need to play with urgency from the opening tip, not wait until they’re down double digits to wake up. Every possession matters in a tight Western Conference, and Minnesota can’t afford to take any more nights off.

The Bigger Picture

The Wolves are maddeningly inconsistent. They’ll play three great quarters against Oklahoma City and Boston, then lay an egg in Detroit. But here’s the frustrating part: they’re still just five games out of the second seed in the West. That’s both a reason for hope and a reminder of how much this team has underachieved.

It’s not just about beating the Clippers tomorrow night—it’s about building momentum. The Wolves have enough talent to go on a run and climb the standings. They just need to stop beating themselves.

Prediction: Wolves 104, Clippers 98

This feels like a bounce-back game. The Wolves are at home, they’ve beaten the Clippers twice, and they’ll (hopefully) be motivated to wash the taste of Detroit out of their mouths. Edwards will do his thing, but the key will be getting contributions from Randle, Gobert, and the rest of the supporting cast. If the Wolves can bring the energy and play to their potential, they’ll send the Target Center crowd home happy.