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Clippers vs. Timberwolves Recap: Tale of two halves
The LA Clippers could not match the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half as they fell, 121-100, in one of their worst losses of the season.
Summary
Even before the opening tip, there was a playoff vibe in the air as the LA Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves were set to square off in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Conference.
And in the first half, that heavyweight billing certainly did not disappoint. Early in the first quarter, the game was a slugfest with neither team able to find an offensive rhythm nor able to create any separation.
The Timberwolves tried to pull away late in the first quarter, but a flurry of dunks and and a three-pointer from Kawhi Leonard kept the game close.
The Wolves tried to pull away again in the second quarter, going up by as many as ten, 43-33. But the Clippers responded with a 10-0 run to tie the game up. A Paul George three-pointer gave the Clippers their first lead of the game at 50-49 and James Harden extended that to 53-49 with a buzzer beating three of his own heading into the half.
The second half was a completely different story though. The Timberwolves opened the third quarter with a quick 8-0 burst and the Clippers were never able to match their energy.
Following the game, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was brutally honest about what happened.
“Outcoached us, outplayed us and everything,” Lue said. “They played better than we did.”
By the end of the third quarter, the Clippers were facing their largest deficit of the game, 89-72. The fourth quarter was more of the same, and close to the five minute mark Lue opted to pull the regulars and empty the bench.
It was a disappointing effort from the Clippers in the second half considering what was at stake. With the loss, the Clippers fall back to third in the Western Conference standings.
Despite the loss, Kawhi Leonard still believes this Clippers team is knocking on the door in terms of being a championship caliber team.
“We’re right there,” Leonard said. “We’ve been winning games as everybody has seen. . .there’s ways for us to get better and that’s what’s scary. We started gelling a little late and now is the time to kind of turn it around.”
Clippers vs. Timberwolves Recap: Tale of two halves
David Yapkowitz