MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards 33-point performance too much for the Clippers as they come up short against the Timberwolves, 109-105.
Rudy Gobert put together a great effort adding 15 points and 18 rebounds for Minnesota.
“We just didn’t have the smartest game today,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Ant was a monster. Rudy was huge for ’em. They played well.”
Kawhi Leonard continued his good play despite the loss leading the Clippers with 26 points and 9 rebounds.
Los Angeles had won 17 of their last 20 games before this loss.
The team was without starting big Ivica Zubac who was a late scratch with tightness in his right calf. This was Zubac’s first missed game of the year.
Daniel Theis started in his place. Theis finished with only three points and four rebounds.
The Clippers were plagued by poor shooting performances from wings Paul George and James Harden who combined to shoot 9 for 33 from the floor. George finished with 16 points and Harden with 14.
Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook tried to step up in place of the starters’ struggles but it wasn’t enough to pick up the win. Powell scored 24 points and Westbrook had 12 points and 13 assists for the Clippers off the bench.
Los Angeles made a late 20-6 surge over a four-plus-minute stretch that sliced their deficit to 103-100 in the fourth but the T-Wolves knocked down their final six free throws to put the game away.
The Clippers will look to get back on track when they head back home to face off against another of the top teams in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
