MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards and Patrick Beverley stood on the Target Center scorer’s table, screaming and celebrating in an ode to an iconic moment in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise history when Kevin Garnett stood on the table and celebrated in the 2004 playoffs.
Shortly after jumping off the table, Beverley sat on the Timberwolves’ bench and began sobbing with emotion. For Beverly, it was deeply personal. Not only did the veteran point guard feel the ecstasy of beating his former team, he was also pleased to have helped Minnesota finish seventh in the Western Conference playoffs with a 109-104 play-in win over LA Clippers to win on Tuesday night.
Minnesota plays the second-ranked Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of their playoff series on Saturday. It’s the Timberwolves’ first playoff appearance since 2018.
“Man I wanted this so bad,” said Beverley, who hugged his mother Lisa on the pitch. “That’s just the icing on the cake, icing on the cake. Play-in to be able to beat them…scraped another goal. I told you we were going to the playoffs. Most of y’all, y’all looked at me like I was crazy the first time I said that. I told you all.”
And he wasted no time in telling his former team – who dished it out in August – how he felt. The Clippers sent Beverley to Memphis, and the Grizzlies traded him to Minnesota, earning him the contract extension he sought in February.
After forcing a late turnover, Beverley celebrated in front of the Clippers’ bench and let out a primal scream before drawing and pointing to his Minnesota jersey.
“Take her home,” Beverley said of what he ended up saying to his old teammates. “Long flight to LA. Take her home. It’s deeper than that for me. I gave my blood, sweat and tears to this organization. You know the story.
“Blood, sweat and tears just being written off like, ‘He’s injury prone. He is old.’ This, this, that, that. Being able to come over here and play them in a play-in and smack them in the ass, no different feeling, man. no other feeling
Beverley fulfilled a vow he made when he was presented to the Minnesota media in September that he would lead the Wolves to the playoffs. On Tuesday night, he helped the franchise secure only its second postseason trip since Garnett was at the same table after leading Wolves to the 2004 Western Conference Finals.
And Beverly did this against his former team. The point guard, who had seven points and 11 rebounds Tuesday, spent four seasons with the Clippers and helped the team transition from the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan era to its current roster of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Beverley helped establish the Clippers’ current hard-working identity and next-man mentality.
In Minneapolis, Beverley’s rowdy hustle, tenacious defense and bravado have left their mark on a young and impressive roster.
“They have guys that are a little bit more confident,” George said after scoring 34 points for the Clippers, who are now playing play-in game winner San Antonio Spurs-New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth time. “His energy and his personality, you know, made an impact, they made an impact on that squad.
“I know what’s going into this game. I didn’t want to allow Pat to do his antics and try to make me nervous. I knew it was all just for show. It’s for the crowd. Include the crowd. I love it . I love it. I miss it. He did it on our side because it’s contagious. I think when he’s in that mode it ignites the team, ignites the arena.
Minnesota completed several challenges to beat the Clippers. LA led by 10 minutes and 8:54 in the game, and Karl-Anthony Towns, frustrated at being in trouble all game, fouled at 7:34 after scoring just 11 points.
But Edwards scored nine of his 30 points after that 10-point deficit, and D’Angelo Russell hit a couple of big 3 points in the last four minutes before finishing with 29 points to defeat Minnesota on a 21-5 run to help win.
“I took what the game gave me,” said Edwards, who will play in his first playoff series. “And that’s what they gave me.
“They were afraid to guard me and I took advantage of that.”
Wolves celebrated on their home court like they’d won a playoff series. And the fans soaked it up. After all, the franchise has lost an average of 46 games over the past three seasons.
“I’m not going to lie, that’s been on my mind since I thought we were playing them,” Edwards said as he stood on the table like Garnett. “I went to sleep [and] saying I’ll hit the game-winning shot and jump on the table.”
Beverley and Wolves face Ja Morant and Memphis next. But they would enjoy that spot in the playoffs first.
“I told you, Ant,” Beverley said to Edwards. “They didn’t believe me. We’re going to the playoffs, baby. They looked at me like I was crazy. They said, ‘Pat, you’re crazy!'”