Game ID: 22500355
LA Clippers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIN 22 20 30 37 109LAC 34 22 22 28 106
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 11/29 · 2 days' restOUT Hyland missed 3 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 11/24 after 9, 12 min since (86% of 14)
MIN availability going into 11/30 · back-to-backOUT Hyland missed 4 since 11/21, returns tonight: 2 min (9% of 16)
BACK Shannon Jr. back 11/24 after 9, 14 min since (98% of 14)
MIN availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restBACK Hyland back 11/30 after 4, 2 min since (9% of 16)
BACK Shannon Jr. back 11/24 after 9, 13 min since (95% of 14)
MIN availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restBACK Hyland back 11/30 after 4, 2 min since (9% of 16)
BACK Shannon Jr. back 11/24 after 9, 12 min since (87% of 14)
NEW Edwards 35 to 40 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/06 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
MIN availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/02, returns tonight: 16 min (99% of 16)
MIN availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restBACK Hyland back 11/30 after 4, 9 min since (54% of 16)
MIN availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Hyland back 12/08 after 3, 10 min since (64% of 16)
MIN availability going into 12/17 · 2 days' restOUT Edwards missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Conley missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/08 after 3, 19 min since (117% of 16)
LAC availability going into 11/29 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 2 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (86% of 32)
BACK Niederhäuser back 11/20 after 6, 5 min since (47% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 7 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 7 since 11/17, returns tonight: 6 min (25% of 22)
OUT Lopez missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 11/28, returns tonight: 12 min (120% of 10)
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 8 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 11/23 after 10, 28 min since (88% of 32)
BACK Miller back 12/01 after 7, 6 min since (25% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 12 min since (120% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 9 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/01 after 7, 6 min since (25% of 22)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 10 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Lopez missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 10 min (44% of 22)
OUT Bogdanović missed 8 since 11/22, returns tonight: 23 min (116% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/01 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/11 · 4 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 11 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 3 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Niederhäuser missed 2 since 12/05, out tonight
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 10 min since (44% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 23 min since (116% of 20)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/15 · 3 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 12 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Miller missed 4 since 12/03, returns tonight: 22 min (99% of 22)
OUT Niederhäuser missed 3 since 12/05, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 10)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 12 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 24 min since (120% of 20)
NEW Batum 18 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/18 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 13 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 22 min since (99% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 12 min since (53% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 22 min since (112% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 4 min since (36% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 14 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Miller back 12/15 after 4, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK Lopez back 12/06 after 6, 13 min since (58% of 22)
BACK Bogdanović back 12/06 after 8, 23 min since (115% of 20)
BACK Niederhäuser back 12/15 after 3, 4 min since (36% of 10)
NEW Batum 18 to 24 min over the last 4
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 125 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Randle at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Hyland (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Jones Jr. (10 straight), Miller (2 straight), Lopez (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 43 percent from three to the Clippers' 31 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Minnesota's 120. Call it Minnesota 120, the Clippers 112.
11/29 vs BOS 119-115 — MIN notes
MIN won 119-115. MIN shot 49% (41 of 83) to BOS's 47%, 21 of 48 from three. Edwards led with 39 (12 of 24, 5 of 11 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Randle added 16, DiVincenzo 15. The hinge was Q3, 35-23: MIN came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 2. MIN trailed 59-69 at the half and won the second half 60-46. McDaniels was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
11/30 vs SAS 125-112 — MIN notes
MIN won 125-112. MIN shot 56% (49 of 87) to SAS's 52%, 17 of 37 from three, and got to the line 13 times to SAS's 19. Edwards led with 32 (13 of 18, 4 of 6 from three); Randle added 22, DiVincenzo 18. The hinge was Q4, 36-19: MIN came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 16. MIN trailed 61-62 at the half and won the second half 64-50. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/02 @ NOP 149-142 — MIN notes
MIN won 149-142 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 50% (52 of 104) to NOP's 55%, 20 of 51 from three, and got to the line 29 times to NOP's 35. Edwards led with 44 (16 of 30, 6 of 13 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Gobert added 26, Reid 18. The hinge was Q3, 42-35: the deficit went from 10 to 3. MIN trailed 58-68 at the half and won the second half 91-74. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/04 @ NOP 125-116 — MIN notes
MIN won 125-116. MIN shot 46% (42 of 92) to NOP's 45%, 15 of 38 from three. MIN turned it over 19 times to NOP's 12, and NOP turned those into 11 steals. Randle led with 28 (9 of 18, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Reid added 19, DiVincenzo 15. The hinge was Q4, 37-26: MIN came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 9. Edwards was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/06 vs LAC 109-106 — MIN notes
MIN won 109-106. MIN shot 50% (34 of 68) to LAC's 47%, 11 of 25 from three, and went to the line 34 times to LAC's 25 — 30 points from the stripe to their 17. McDaniels led with 27 (10 of 13, 3 of 3 from three); Randle added 24, Reid 19. The hinge was Q4, 37-28: MIN came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 3. MIN trailed 42-56 at the half and won the second half 67-50. Conley was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/08 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hyland (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brooks at 23 and Gillespie at 20 a game. Without Green (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Phoenix's 32 and the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Phoenix's 19. Call it Minnesota 119, Phoenix 114.
12/12 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 101, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Butler III at 16 and Podziemski at 14 a game. Without Ste. Curry (5 straight), Green (2 straight), Horford (2 straight). 4 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 22 a game. 3 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 101 a night to Minnesota's 117 and the line, where Minnesota takes 26 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Golden State 114, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
12/14 vs SAC — 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 123 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 29 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 23 a game. One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 46 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; LaVine at 20 and DeRozan at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Sabonis (11 straight), Plowden (13 straight), Schröder (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and Sacramento minus-8 and the line, where Minnesota takes 29 free throws a game to Sacramento's 20. Call it Minnesota 122, Sacramento 111, Minnesota by 11.
12/17 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 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 28 free throws a game; Randle at 25 and Edwards at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Edwards (2 straight), Conley (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Spencer at 19 and Wells at 18 a game. Without Edey (2 straight), Jackson (9 straight), Small (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Minnesota 116, Memphis 113, Memphis keeping it close.
11/29 vs DAL 110-114 — LAC notes
LAC lost 110-114. LAC shot 46% (37 of 80) to DAL's 44%, 7 of 25 from three. LAC turned it over 18 times to DAL's 8, and DAL turned those into 15 steals. Leonard led with 30 (10 of 20, 3 of 4 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Harden added 29, Collins 21. Q2 was theirs, 28-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-82 against them. They led by as many as 10. Sanders's -15 in 9 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 @ MIA 123-140 — LAC notes
LAC lost 123-140. LAC shot 45% (43 of 96) to MIA's 53%, 9 of 29 from three, and went to the line 35 times to MIA's 12 — 28 points from the stripe to their 10. Leonard led with 36 (12 of 21, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Zubac added 16, Dunn 12. Q4 was theirs, 41-26, the deficit cut from 32 to 17, but the other 3 periods went 114-82 against them. Harden's -39 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/03 @ ATL 115-92 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-92. LAC shot 49% (44 of 89) to ATL's 40%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 20 times to ATL's 14 — 17 points from the stripe to their 11. The glass went 54-38 for them. Harden led with 27 (11 of 24, 5 of 14 from three); Leonard added 21, Sanders 17. The hinge was Q2, 28-20: a lead of 6 became 14, and the lead reached 25. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/05 @ MEM 98-107 — LAC notes
LAC lost 98-107. LAC shot 44% (35 of 80) to MEM's 54%, 14 of 44 from three. Leonard led with 24 (10 of 23, 2 of 9 from three); Harden added 18, Collins 16. Q1 was theirs, 33-30, but the other 3 periods went 77-65 against them. Harden's -17 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ MIN 106-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-109. LAC took 17 more shots (85 to 68), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to MIN's 50%, 9 of 29 from three, and got to the line 25 times to MIN's 34. Harden led with 34 (10 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 13 of 15 at the line); Leonard added 20, Zubac 15. Q1 was theirs, 34-22, but the other 3 periods went 87-72 against them. They led by as many as 18. Batum's -18 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Sengun at 29 and Durant at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sengun (2 straight), Eason (10 straight), Finney-Smith (21 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Leonard at 26 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Jones Jr. (11 straight), Miller (3 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-11 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the arc, Houston at 36 percent from three to the Clippers' 31. Call it Houston 119, the Clippers 109, Houston by 10.
12/15 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (12 straight), Miller (4 straight). 3 days' rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edey at 18 and Wells at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Jackson (8 straight), Small (15 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-3 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 13. Call it the Clippers 115, Memphis 114, Memphis keeping it close.
12/18 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 106, shooting 56 percent and 46 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Hartenstein (6 straight), Joe (3 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 23 and Leonard at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (13 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 46 percent from three to the Clippers' 34 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it OKC 121, the Clippers 106, OKC by 15.
12/20 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 0-5 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 22 and Harden at 22 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 32 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and James at 26 a game. Without Reaves (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Lakers take 32 free throws a game to the Clippers' 22 and the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 17 times a game to the Lakers' 13. Call it the Lakers 116, the Clippers 115, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JC J. Clark
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
MC M. Conley
NR N. Reid
RD R. Dillingham
RG R. Gobert
TS T. Shannon Jr.
LACBB B. Bogdanović
BL B. Lopez
BO Bogdanovic
IZ I. Zubac
JC J. Collins
JH J. Harden
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
KS K. Sanders
NB N. Batum
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
Reid makes a go-ahead 3-pointer, McDaniels scores 27 and Timberwolves edge Clippers
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Naz Reid made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining, Jaden McDaniels scored 27 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-106 on Saturday night.
Julius Randle added 24 points for Minnesota. Reid's big shot capped a 19-point night off the bench, including 5 of 8 from deep. McDaniels then made two free throws with 4.8 seconds left and the Timberwolves held on.
Minnesota won its season-high fifth straight game. The Clippers have lost seven of eight.
James Harden led the Clippers with 34 points and moved into 10th on the NBA's career scoring list . He surpassed Carmelo Anthony (28,289 points) with a pair of free throws in the third quarter.
Kawhi Leonard added 20 points while Ivica Zubac had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers. Harden missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Minnesota entered with the fourth-best 3-point percentage in the NBA (38.7%) but wsa just 2 for 10 behind the arc before halftime.
That changed in the second half, when McDaniels made three 3-pointers to help Minnesota dig out from an 18-point deficit. The Wolves finished 11 of 25 from deep.
Harden closed out the first half with four straight points. Rudy Gobert was called for a flagrant foul after landing under Harden’s feet on a 3-point attempt. Harden made two free throws and later made another basket in the closing seconds to finish the half with 19 points.
Up next Clippers: Finish their road trip Thursday at Houston.