Game ID: 22300553
LA Clippers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 29 17 35 28 109LAC 19 26 23 37 105
LAC @ MIN ScoutingLAC @ 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.
MIN availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (131% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (26% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (129% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/10 · back-to-backBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 3 min since (24% of 13)
BACK McLaughlin back 1/01 after 2, 14 min since (133% of 11)
MIN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restBACK Milton back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (36% of 13)
MIN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/17 · 2 days' rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/18 · back-to-back
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's rest
full strength
MIN availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Milton missed 2 since 1/18, returns tonight: 15 min (115% of 13)
OUT Brown Jr. missed 2 since 1/18, out tonight
LAC availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 18 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 7 min since (51% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/05 after 4, 6 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 19 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 35 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 7 min since (51% of 14)
BACK Hyland back 1/05 after 4, 6 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 20 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/01 after 4, 34 min since (100% of 34)
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 6 min since (42% of 14)
BACK Boston back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (46% of 10)
LAC availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 21 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/05 after 27, 6 min since (42% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 22 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 2 since 1/10, returns tonight: 16 min (111% of 14)
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 1/07, out tonight
LAC availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 23 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 1/07, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 16 min since (111% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/21 · 4 days' restOUT Zubac missed 2 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 24 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 6 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 22 min since (155% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Zubac missed 3 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 25 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 7 since 1/07, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 1/14, out tonight
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 20 min since (138% of 14)
LAC availability going into 1/26 · 2 days' restOUT Zubac missed 4 since 1/14, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 26 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 8 since 1/07, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 14)
OUT Boston missed 4 since 1/14, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 10)
BACK Plumlee back 1/14 after 2, 20 min since (138% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 24 and Edwards at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (22 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to Minnesota's 38. Call it Minnesota 114, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/07 @ DAL 108-115 — MIN notes
MIN lost 108-115. MIN shot 44% (41 of 94) to DAL's 45%, 13 of 41 from three. Edwards led with 36 (14 of 27, 3 of 6 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Towns added 24, Reid 15. Q4 was theirs, 26-24, the deficit cut from 9 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 91-82 against them.
1/09 @ ORL 113-92 — MIN notes
MIN won 113-92. MIN shot 54% (43 of 80) to ORL's 36%, 12 of 30 from three. MIN turned it over 18 times to ORL's 12, and ORL turned those into 13 steals. Towns led with 28 (11 of 19, 5 of 5 from three); Gobert added 21, McDaniels 15. The hinge was Q1, 33-16: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 34. McDaniels was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
1/10 @ BOS 120-127 — MIN notes
MIN lost 120-127 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 46% (44 of 95) to BOS's 43%, 14 of 34 from three, and got to the line 20 times to BOS's 31. Edwards led with 29 (11 of 25, 3 of 6 from three); Towns added 25, Reid 19. Q3 was theirs, 32-25, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 4 periods went 102-88 against them. McDaniels's -12 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 vs POR 116-93 — MIN notes
MIN won 116-93. MIN shot 55% (44 of 80) to POR's 39%, 11 of 31 from three, and got to the line 24 times to POR's 34. Gobert led with 24 (9 of 11, 6 of 8 at the line); Towns added 23, Reid 14. The hinge was Q1, 36-15: from level to 21 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +41.
1/14 vs LAC 109-105 — MIN notes
MIN won 109-105. MIN shot 57% (38 of 67) to LAC's 43%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 31 times to LAC's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 16. MIN turned it over 17 times to LAC's 11, and LAC turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 33 (10 of 16, 2 of 4 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Towns added 17, Gobert 15. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 17. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/17 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 124, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Burks at 20 and Bogdanović at 20 a game. Without Cunningham (4 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Towns at 23 and Edwards at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Detroit's 124. Call it Minnesota 117, Detroit 111.
1/18 vs MEM — 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 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; Towns at 24 and Edwards at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 23 and Jackson Jr. at 22 a game. Without Bane (2 straight), Rose (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to Memphis's 35. Call it Minnesota 114, Memphis 109.
1/20 vs OKC — 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 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 25 and Towns at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 44 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it Minnesota 115, OKC 114, OKC keeping it close.
1/22 vs CHA — 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 113 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 118, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Ball at 26 and Rozier at 21 a game. Without Richards (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 104 a night to Charlotte's 118 and the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to Charlotte's 34. Call it Minnesota 117, Charlotte 104, Minnesota by 13.
1/07 @ LAL 103-106 — LAC notes
LAC lost 103-106. LAC took 9 more shots (91 to 82), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to LAL's 51%, 14 of 37 from three. LAC turned it over 14 times to LAL's 19. George led with 22 (8 of 18, 4 of 11 from three); Zubac added 22, Harden 15. Q1 was theirs, 24-19, but the other 3 periods went 87-79 against them. Westbrook's -12 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 vs PHX 138-111 — LAC notes
LAC won 138-111. LAC shot 62% (53 of 85) to PHX's 49%, 15 of 29 from three, and got to the line 23 times to PHX's 29. The glass went 44-25 for them. George led with 25 (10 of 19, 4 of 9 from three); Harden added 19, Zubac 19. The hinge was Q4, 37-20: a lead of 10 became 27, and the lead reached 30. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/10 vs TOR 126-120 — LAC notes
LAC won 126-120. LAC shot 53% (49 of 93) to TOR's 55%, 15 of 34 from three. LAC turned it over 7 times to TOR's 14. George led with 29 (12 of 22, 5 of 9 from three); Leonard added 29, Harden 14. The hinge was Q4, 35-28: LAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 6. George was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/12 @ MEM 128-119 — LAC notes
LAC won 128-119. LAC shot 55% (49 of 89) to MEM's 43%, 15 of 31 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MEM's 27. George led with 37 (12 of 18, 7 of 10 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Leonard added 22, Coffey 13. The hinge was Q2, 42-27: LAC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 23. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/14 @ MIN 105-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 105-109. LAC took 16 more shots (83 to 67), but shot 43% to MIN's 57%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MIN's 31. LAC turned it over 11 times to MIN's 17. Leonard led with 26 (9 of 19, 2 of 3 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Powell added 24, George 16. Q2 was theirs, 26-17, the deficit cut from 10 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 92-79 against them. Leonard's -13 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/16 vs OKC — 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 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Tucker (23 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it the Clippers 117, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
1/21 vs BKN — 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 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 54 percent and 47 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 29 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Zubac (2 straight), Tucker (24 straight). 4 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 26 and Thomas at 20 a game. Without Simmons (34 straight), Clowney (10 straight), Wilson (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 47 percent from three to Brooklyn's 33 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-2 a night and Brooklyn minus-3. Call it the Clippers 119, Brooklyn 112.
1/23 vs LAL — 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 122 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 46 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 23 a game. Without Zubac (3 straight), Tucker (25 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Russell at 27 and James at 26 a game. Without Vincent (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 46 percent from three to the Lakers' 39 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 13 times a game to the Clippers' 10. Call it the Clippers 120, the Lakers 114.
1/26 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barrett at 23 and Barnes at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Poeltl (8 straight), Freeman-Liberty (3 straight). 3 days' rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 53 percent and 48 from three, 21 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Zubac (4 straight), Tucker (26 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 48 percent from three to Toronto's 32 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-0 a night and Toronto minus-5. Call it the Clippers 116, Toronto 113, Toronto keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
JM J. McDaniels
KA K. Anderson
KT K. Towns
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
LACAC A. Coffey
DT D. Theis
JH J. Harden
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
T-wolves hold off Clippers 109-105 with big help from Edwards and Gobert
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Anthony Edwards scored 20 of his 33 points in the third quarter and Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 18 rebounds to help the Minnesota Timberwolves cool off the Los Angeles Clippers 109-105 on Sunday.
Norman Powell 's corner 3-pointer — his sixth of the game — capped a 20-6 surge by the Clippers over a four-plus-minute stretch that sliced their deficit to 103-100.
Gobert, who missed seven free throws including earlier back-to-back airballs that had the Clippers bench doubling over in derisive laughter , made four foul shots in the final minute to nudge the Wolves to the finish line on a night when they had 19 turnovers and allowed 37 points in the fourth quarter.
“Getting all the rebounds and making sure they don’t get finishes at the rim, he was great tonight,” Edwards said. "He was up, blocking mid-ranges and stuff like that. Defensive Player of the Year, for sure.”
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 points for the West-leading Wolves (28-11), who held Clippers stars Paul George (16 points) and James Harden (14 points) to a combined 9-for-33 shooting from the floor. The Wolves, who lead the NBA in scoring defense, are 16-2 at home and 20-6 against their conference.
“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 had 26 points and nine rebounds to steer the Clippers (25-14), who had won 17 of their last 20 games and eight of nine before this. The Clippers made Ivica Zubac a last-minute scratch with tightness in his right calf, and the 7-foot Croatian was clearly missed in his first absence of the season.
Gobert had four blocks for the Wolves and took a two-handed shove to the neck from Terrance Mann after the Clippers guard reacted to a high screen in the third quarter. Their staredown didn't escalate beyond that, but the tension between two potential postseason opponents was apparent in the packed arena on a frigid evening. The Wolves successfully stayed true to their go-big philosophy, even after the Clippers went in small ball mode.
“We talk about winning that battle with that guy in front of you all the time," coach Chris Finch said. “I think when you have Rudy behind you playing the way he’s playing, it gives you even more confidence.”
Zubac was listed as questionable, then announced as a starter when the lineups were posted a half-hour before tipoff, but he was ultimately ruled out for the game and replaced by Daniel Theis . Mason Plumlee , who’s played sparingly since returning from a knee injury, joined the rotation for the night too as the Clippers tried to contend with the enviable collection of big men the Wolves have assembled.
Powell scored 24 points and Russell Westbrook had 12 points and 13 assists for the Clippers off the bench to help offset the off night for George and Harden. Edwards had a lot to do with that, and he had plenty of energy on the offensive end as usual, too.
“He sees double teams every night. He sees a lot of different defenses that are thrown at him,” Lue said. “Not only is he scoring, but he’s making the right pass, making the right read.”