Timberwolves 108, Clippers 106: Edwards Scores 37 Points to Snap Wolves Losing Streak

After trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, the Timberwolves stormed back to snap their three-game losing streak

For already the third time this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Los Angeles Clippers, looking to sweep the season series.

Unlike the previous two matchups, the Clippers had their full cavalcade of stars as Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard, playing in just his second game of the season, were available to round out the LA starting lineup around James Harden, Kris Dunn, and Ivica Zubac.

Before the game, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch talked about what changes facing the Clippers with two of their best players back in the lineup.

“A lot of firepower back in the lineup. Certainly a boost to their depth and their overall talent with Kawhi back. Norman is having an amazing year, really is. He’s been huge for the season that they’re having.”

The Wolves countered with a lineup change of their own, sliding Donte DiVincenzo into the place of Mike Conley. The Wolves starting group has struggled much of the year and this switch comes as a much-needed change for both the starters and the Wolves as a whole.

It was the first game Conley has come off the bench for the Wolves since they acquired him at the 2023 NBA trade deadline. He had started his previous 130 games with Minnesota.

The new-look Wolves starting unit got off to an all-too-familiar offensive start to the game, scoring just seven points over the first six minutes of the game, going 3-13 from the field, adding in three turnovers as the Clippers took an early six-point lead.

The bench lineups didn’t do much better, scoring only nine points the remainder of the first quarter as the Clippers took a 27-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter brought even more lifeless basketball as the Wolves’ offense continued to show almost no ability to find any consistent form of offense. Finch tried his best to find a lineup that would work, but each new group looked somehow even worse than the last.

The Wolves fell down as many as 19 points before going on a 13-5 run late in the second quarter to get them back in the game. During the run, the Wolves offense scored on five straight possessions including three 3-pointers and a put-back slam from Rudy Gobert.

After trailing by double-digits most of the first half, the Timberwolves trailed 53-46 at halftime. Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid led the Wolves in scoring with nine points each.

The new starting lineup that struggled in their first stint together found a groove to start the third quarter as Minnesota went on a 21-4 run to start the half to take a 67-57 lead midway through the third quarter.

Not surprisingly, the Clippers wouldn’t go down without a fight, finishing the half on a 16-7 run of their own to cut the Timberwolves lead to 77-76 heading into the fourth quarter.

The game of runs continued in the fourth quarter as Minnesota jumped out to a 9-point lead early in the fourth before the Clippers built a lead as high as five points with four minutes remaining in the game.

Down the stretch of the game, both teams exchanged leads as Jaden McDaniels hit a tough 3-pointer in the corner to put the Wolves up by two before Powell made an and-1 layup over Gobert to give the Clippers the lead back.

That is when the Timberwolves superstar took over the game, making back-to-back dagger shots from beyond the arc to put the game away for the Timberwolves for good.

The Clippers did make it interesting late with a pair of offensive rebounds off of missed free throws and a tip-in attempt to tie the game that didn’t fall, but the Wolves held on to win 108-106, snapping their three-game losing streak.

Edwards scored 37 points, his second straight fantastic offensive outing after scoring 53 points on Saturday. He finished the game shooting 14-29 including six 3-pointers, while adding in eight assists and seven rebounds. Powell and Harden led the Clippers with a combined 47 points.

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Key Takeaways

Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Finch Changes the Starting Lineup

Coming into Mike Conley had played 130 games for the Timberwolves and started every single one of them. Today, for the first time as a member of the Wolves, Conley came off the bench.

The game started poorly for the new-look starting unit, failing to score a field goal until the 9:43 mark of the first quarter, but they had a much better stint in the second half where they took what was a seven-point deficit and turned it a ten-point lead.

Finch spoke on the podium after the game about what went into the decision to start DiVincenzo instead of Conley.

“It was all about trying to get Mike into a group of guys that could accentuate his talents better. He plays the bulk of his minutes with [the starters]. The usage has shifted in that unit. It was really a way to try to help him get going.”

Conley did seem to be more comfortable playing within the new rotation as he scored 11 points on 4-8 shooting including two 3-pointers, four rebounds, three assists, and only one turnover.

In the locker room after the game, Conley spoke about the conversation he had with Finch about the lineup change.

“It was respectful, man. It was super cool that he even did that. I know he knows I was going to be OK with it, I feel like. But for him to sit me down and ask, it shows the respect he has for me and all our players. That’s big. I told him right away I had no issue. Let’s go, I’m ready to go. I didn’t act any different. I went out there and continued to lead and be who I am.”

It should come as no surprise that Conley was able to take the decision professionally and seamlessly fit into his new role. Conley is the consummate professional in the Wolves locker room and likely around the league as well. He has countless times across his Wolves tenure made decisions or sacrifices to help the Wolves win and this is another example of that.

Conley was not the only player affected as DiVincenzo made his third start in a Timberwolves uniform. Donte spoke about whether it is a different feeling as a starter.

“I’m used to it. Every team that I’ve played on. Whatever it is, it’s just different preparation for the game, changes your routine a little bit. Nothing mindset-wise changes. You just go in there and my job is to pick up speed in that first unit and push the pace and get these guys quick, early open looks.”

Similar to Conley, DiVincenzo also did well settling into his new role. He scored 15 points on 5-12 shooting including 3-8 from beyond the arc.

The starting lineup allowed the Wolves to get to new lineups that were previously much harder to play large minutes. One example was the lineup that was so successful last year after Karl-Anthony Towns got hurt that included Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Reid, and Gobert.

That lineup, along with Nickeil Alexander-Walker in for one of the guards, was a big driver of success in this game. It does not seem to be a coincidence that the same groups of players that played so well together a season ago, were able to find success again tonight.

Anthony Edwards is Back

After going over a month searching to find the scoring touch and balance between playmaking and attacking, Edwards has put up back-to-back games with sensational offensive games, scoring 53 points on Saturday and 37 points tonight.

For so much of the season, the Wolves have been yearning for this type of performance from Edwards. They got it again tonight and the Target Center crowd showed its appreciation for their franchise player returning to his usual form.

After the game, Finch talked about Ant rediscovering himself as an offensive force in this game.

“I think after his comments the other day, he’s pretty self-aware sometimes. He came into practice and just said I gotta be myself. I’m letting this get to me too much. I have to get back to the joy of the game and being aggressive and not worrying about what the defense might or might not do. Reality is he’s good enough to be able to handle it all. You gotta sift through it all as it comes at you. It’s a sign of mental toughness is what it is. He had gotten to a point where he knew he need to course correct.”

While Edwards’s scoring struggles have been a big part of the Wolves’ failure to meet expectations, it was only a matter of time before he started to have more performances similar to the one he had tonight.

The Timberwolves still have many issues to work out, most notably what to do with Julius Randle who only played 23 minutes tonight, but for at least one night, the Wolves looked like the team many thought they could be this season.

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Up Next

The Timberwolves are right back at it tomorrow night on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans for their first back-to-back in almost six weeks. The Pelicans, who had lost 20 of their previous 21 games have won their last two games, both against the league-worst Washington Wizards.

The game begins at 7:00 PM CT at Smoothie King Center. Fans can watch the game on FanDuel Sports Network North.

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Game Highlights