Game ID: 22300770
Minnesota Timberwolves @ LA Clippers
Monday, February 12, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 24 29 19 28 100MIN 28 21 40 32 121
LAC vs MIN ScoutingLAC vs MIN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAC availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 9 since 1/14, returns tonight: 18 min (68% of 27)
OUT Tucker missed 31 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 1/26 after 8, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/26 after 4, 8 min since (84% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/05 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 32 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 18 min since (68% of 27)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 33 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 2/02, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 2/04, returns tonight: 4 min (35% of 10)
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 18 min since (68% of 27)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/10 · 2 days' restOUT Tucker missed 34 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (74% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 35 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (74% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (35% of 10)
NEW Plumlee 14 to 20 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 36 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 6 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Zubac back 2/04 after 9, 20 min since (76% of 27)
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 4 min since (42% of 10)
LAC availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Tucker missed 37 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 7 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 6 min since (57% of 10)
LAC availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Theis missed 2 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 38 since 11/29, returns tonight: 14 min (95% of 15)
OUT Hyland missed 8 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Boston back 2/07 after 2, 5 min since (52% of 10)
LAC availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 3 since 2/14, returns tonight: 14 min (85% of 17)
OUT Hyland missed 9 since 2/02, out tonight
BACK Tucker back 2/23 after 38, 14 min since (95% of 15)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restBACK Conley back 1/25 after 2, 29 min since (99% of 29)
BACK Brown Jr. back 1/29 after 6, 6 min since (55% of 11)
MIN availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restBACK Conley back 1/25 after 2, 29 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Brown Jr. back 1/29 after 6, 6 min since (55% of 11)
MIN availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restBACK Conley back 1/31 after 2, 26 min since (89% of 29)
BACK Brown Jr. back 1/29 after 6, 6 min since (50% of 11)
MIN availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restBACK Conley back 1/31 after 2, 29 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Brown Jr. back 1/29 after 6, 6 min since (50% of 11)
MIN availability going into 2/12 · 3 days' restBACK Conley back 1/31 after 2, 29 min since (99% of 29)
MIN availability going into 2/13 · back-to-back
full strength
MIN availability going into 2/15 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 2/23 · 7 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 2/24 · back-to-back
full strength
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 18 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Tucker (35 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 3 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to the Clippers' 117. Call it the Clippers 115, Minnesota 114, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/04 @ MIA 103-95 — LAC notes
LAC won 103-95. LAC shot 44% (34 of 77) to MIA's 42%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 22 times to MIA's 12 — 19 points from the stripe to their 11. LAC turned it over 15 times to MIA's 10, and MIA turned those into 9 steals. Leonard led with 25 (8 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Harden added 21, Powell 16. The hinge was Q4, 34-28: a lead of 2 became 8. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
2/05 @ ATL 149-144 — LAC notes
LAC won 149-144. LAC shot 58% (52 of 89) to ATL's 54%, 21 of 35 from three. Leonard led with 36 (13 of 20, 5 of 8 from three); Harden added 30, George 18. The hinge was Q1, 37-28: from level to 9 ahead. George was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/07 vs NOP 106-117 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-117. LAC shot 46% (36 of 78) to NOP's 53%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NOP's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 11. LAC turned it over 19 times to NOP's 12, and NOP turned those into 13 steals. Harden led with 19 (6 of 11, 5 of 6 from three); Powell added 18, Leonard 15. Q2 was theirs, 28-19, the deficit cut from 17 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 98-78 against them. Plumlee's -16 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/10 vs DET 112-106 — LAC notes
LAC won 112-106. LAC shot 45% (37 of 82) to DET's 44%, 13 of 39 from three, and went to the line 26 times to DET's 7 — 25 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 35-57 against them. George led with 33 (14 of 24, 4 of 13 from three); Leonard added 24, Harden 14. The hinge was Q4, 36-25: LAC came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 6. LAC trailed 49-58 at the half and won the second half 63-48. Westbrook was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
2/12 vs MIN 100-121 — LAC notes
LAC lost 100-121. LAC shot 40% (34 of 84) to MIN's 53%, 9 of 28 from three, and went to the line 26 times to MIN's 19 — 23 points from the stripe to their 18. Leonard led with 18 (8 of 17, 1 of 3 from three); George added 18, Harden 17. Q2 was theirs, 29-21, turning a 4-point deficit into a 4-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-71 against them. Powell's -22 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/14 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Kuminga at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Paul (16 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 20 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (36 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-14 a night and the Clippers minus-6 and the line, where the Clippers take 26 free throws a game to Golden State's 17. Call it Golden State 119, the Clippers 112.
2/22 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Jal. Williams at 25 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 8 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 29 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (37 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 29 free throws a game to OKC's 20 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-6 a night and OKC minus-11. Call it OKC 121, the Clippers 118, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/23 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 24 and Jackson at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Bane (18 straight), Pippen Jr. (2 straight), LaRavia (17 straight). 7 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 19 and George at 19 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Theis (2 straight), Tucker (38 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 26 free throws a game to Memphis's 18 and the defense, Memphis allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 120. Call it Memphis 114, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/25 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and George at 21 a game. Without Theis (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Fox at 26 and Sabonis at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the line, where the Clippers take 24 free throws a game to Sacramento's 18. Call it the Clippers 117, Sacramento 115, Sacramento keeping it close.
2/02 vs ORL 106-108 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-108. MIN shot 46% (38 of 82) to ORL's 46%, 12 of 38 from three, and got to the line 20 times to ORL's 26. Gobert led with 22 (6 of 7, 10 of 11 at the line); Edwards added 22, Towns 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-26, but the other 3 periods went 82-68 against them. They led by as many as 17. Conley's -13 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 vs HOU 111-90 — MIN notes
MIN won 111-90. MIN shot 44% (40 of 90) to HOU's 35%, 11 of 30 from three. The glass went 58-41 for them. Edwards led with 32 (11 of 22, 4 of 8 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Gobert added 17, Towns 14. The hinge was Q3, 32-20: a lead of 4 became 16, and the lead reached 28. Gobert was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
2/06 @ CHI 123-129 — MIN notes
MIN lost 123-129 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 46% (42 of 92) to CHI's 48%, 20 of 45 from three, and got to the line 26 times to CHI's 32. Edwards led with 38 (12 of 26, 5 of 9 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Towns added 33, McDaniels 13. Q1 was theirs, 33-22, but the other 4 periods went 107-90 against them. They led by as many as 23.
2/08 @ MIL 129-105 — MIN notes
MIN won 129-105. MIN shot 55% (48 of 87) to MIL's 49%, 21 of 41 from three. MIN turned it over 8 times to MIL's 13. Edwards led with 26 (9 of 20, 4 of 11 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Towns added 19, Conley 18. The hinge was Q3, 39-22: a lead of 10 became 27. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
2/12 @ LAC 121-100 — MIN notes
MIN won 121-100. MIN shot 53% (46 of 86) to LAC's 40%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 19 times to LAC's 26. Towns led with 24 (8 of 12, 1 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Edwards added 23, Gobert 17. The hinge was Q3, 40-19: MIN came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 17, and the lead reached 24. MIN trailed 49-53 at the half and won the second half 72-47. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
2/13 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 30 and Simons at 27 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Sharpe (15 straight), Brogdon (3 straight), Henderson (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Towns at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-2 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Portland's 114. Call it Minnesota 114, Portland 109.
2/15 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Grant at 28 and Simons at 26 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Sharpe (16 straight), Brogdon (4 straight), Rupert (6 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Towns at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Portland's 35 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-4 a night and Portland minus-2. Call it Minnesota 115, Portland 108.
2/23 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. 7 days' rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 25 and Lillard at 21 a game. Without Middleton (5 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Milwaukee's 36 and the line, where Minnesota takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 18. Call it Minnesota 118, Milwaukee 110.
2/24 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Thomas at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-6 a night and Brooklyn minus-8 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 103 a night to Brooklyn's 119. Call it Minnesota 118, Brooklyn 106, Minnesota by 12.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DN D. Nix
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. Minott
KA K. Anderson
KT K. Towns
MC M. Conley
MM M. Morris
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Boston
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
JM J. Miller
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
MP M. Plumlee
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
MIN/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Towns, Edwards help Timberwolves rally in second half for 121-100 victory over Clippers
LOS ANGELES -- — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points, Anthony Edwards added 23 and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away in the second half for a 121-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Timberwolves (37-16) remained atop the Western Conference with their third win in the last four games.
It is the 10th time the Timberwolves have won this season when trailing at halftime, which is second in the NBA.
“I didn’t think we brought enough force or physicality to the game in the first half. I thought we played good basketball but there was a bunch of plays where they just were way more physical than we were,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “All credit to the guys. They recognize that and set the tone at the start of the second half.”
The Timberwolves trailed 53-49 at halftime, but seized control in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 40-19.
“We’re doing a good job of being focused. We listen to coach and do a good job in the third quarter of adjusting after seeing it and not committing the same sentence,” Towns said.
Minnesota started the second half with eight straight points, but it wasn't until midway through the third quarter that it was able to pull away.
Minnesota trailed 64-62 midway through the quarter before it went on a 27-8 run to close the third.
The Timberwolves had a 12-2 spurt to close the quarter as Towns scored eight straight points and Edwards had a reverse layup to give them an 89-72 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Minnesota was 12 of 19 from the field in the quarter. Edwards and Towns were both 6 of 6 at the line as the Timberwolves made all 13 of their foul shots in the period.
Meanwhile, the Clippers were 7 of 20 from the field and committed five turnovers that resulted in six Minnesota points.
“We were playing very good in the first half. We were just missing the little extra effort and giving them rebounds. Once we cleaned that up, we had great defensive possessions and were able to run on them,” Gobert said.
The Timberwolves’ largest lead was 24 points during the fourth quarter.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 18 points apiece and James Harden added 17.
George became the Clippers' career 3-point leader with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter, hitting his 739th to surpass Eric Piatkowski .
“They played better than we did. Outcoached us, outplayed us and everything,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I thought just the physicality and attention to detail, they were better.”
Los Angeles, which is 27-7 since the start of December, is in third place in the Western Conference with a 35-17 record.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: At Portland for two straight games beginning Tuesday.