Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images
The 7th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are back in the NBA playoffs after beating the 8th-seeded Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in Tuesday’s play-in tournament at Minneapolis’ Target Center.
LA led 93-83 with 8:54 regulations remaining, but Minnesota responded with a 16-2 run, topped by a dunk from Anthony Edwards for a 99-95 advantage:
Minnesota Timberwolves @Timberwolves
THERE IT IS pic.twitter.com/epHTOH8dwF
Minnesota never fell behind for the rest of the game, with Edwards hitting a big three-pointer for a 102-98 lead. The Timberwolves iced the game with free throws on the track to end the game.
Edwards’ 30 points led the Timberwolves and D’Angelo Russell hit 10 of 18 shots for 29 points. Their efforts helped overcome an off-night by All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, who was fouled in the fourth quarter after just 11 points in 24 minutes.
Clippers forward Paul George, who started the game with 2 of 10 from field, finished the game with 34 points (10 of 24 from field, 6 of 12 from three).
The Timberwolves hadn’t made the playoffs in four years before breaking that streak on Tuesday. The Clippers still have a chance of earning a playoff berth and will look to extend their postseason appearance streak to four.
Notable achievements
Clippers F Paul George: 34 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
Clippers G Reggie Jackson: 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
Clippers G. Norman Powell: 16 points
Timberwolves G Anthony Edwards: 30 points, 5 rebounds
Timberwolves G D’Angelo Russell: 29 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns: 11 points, 5 rebounds
Strong 4th Quarter powers Wolves
After half-time, things didn’t go well for the wolves.
The Clippers beat Minnesota 42:30 in the first 15:06 of the second half. George was scorching hot and Towns was unable to get going (3-of-11) due to foul trouble and fighting on the field.
LA led 93-83 and seemed about to crush that one, but Towns hit the bucket for a clean layup to cut the lead to eight.
However, he soon fouled, leaving Wolves without their star player. However, Minnesota otherwise has a lot of talent, and it was up to them to take over.
That’s exactly what they did as the Wolves hit big shots and charged on the defense.
Malik Beasley sank a three to cut the lead to 93-90:
NBA @NBA
Malik Beasley dumps the 3 to make it a 3 point game!
Look at yourself #MetaQuestPlayIn on TNT
LAK 93 | MIN 90
6:39 remaining in Q4WIN TO ENTER pic.twitter.com/lwFvvK5jlx
George responded with a layup, but Edwards and Naz Reid both hit shots to cut the Clippers’ lead to 95-94.
Then it was Russell’s turn as he pulled up a three-piece pull-up for a lead the Wolves would never give up:
Minnesota Timberwolves @Timberwolves
YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS pic.twitter.com/1R3fqZYsIV
Edwards soon followed with a hammer dunk:
Minnesota Timberwolves @Timberwolves
THERE IT IS pic.twitter.com/epHTOH8dwF
The Clippers came within a point after Nicolas Batum’s three a minute later, but Edwards’ step-back three and Russell’s subsequent step-back two from just inside the arc gave the Wolves a 104-98 lead.
George halved the lead with a three, but the Wolves slipped away from there and are now headed to Memphis.
George is doing everything to lead the Clippers to the playoffs
Nobody on the court played better than George in the second half as the seven-time All-Star tried to get the Clippers on their back and into the playoffs.
He almost ripped it off, done it on both ends of the floor.
LA Clippers @LAClippers
All about the hustle. 😤
George did his best work behind the three-point line, however, as Wolves just couldn’t stop him from deep. Back-to-back threes put LA ahead 69-67.
LA Clippers @LAClippers
Back to Back 3️⃣’s.
In the end, he scored 18 goals in the quarter and had 27 goals in the last 12 minutes.
NBA @NBA
Paul George is up to 15 points in Q3 🔥
the @LAClippers lead in Q3 by 7 points #MetaQuestPlayIn on TNT pic.twitter.com/nzHCm2mjG2
George followed it up in the fourth and took a 95-90 lead with this shot from mid-range:
LA Clippers @LAClippers
Smooth with it.
However, those were the only points scored during Minnesota’s 16-2 run, forcing LA to struggle in the end. To his credit, George kept things interesting with an assist on the Batum three before making a pair of threes himself.
However, Wolves were just too good on the track and George and the Clippers now face a win-or-home game on Friday.
What’s next?
Minnesota plays the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which begins Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on the FedExForum.
The Clippers will host the winner of the New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs play-in game on Friday at 10:00 p.m. ET in Crypto.com Arena.
The winner there will be number 8, starting Sunday’s first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns.