Clippers escape with nail-biting win over Timberwolves

But Sunday's game had an anticlimactic ending.

It was an anticlimactic ending to Sunday’s back-and-forth matinee.

The Timberwolves called a timeout after Kawhi Leonard made a pair of free throws to put the Los Angeles Clippers up 89-86 with 13 seconds remaining. Minnesota didn't score a quick bucket, nor did it fire off a potential game-tying 3-pointer. 

Instead, Anthony Edwards got to the rim for a dunk with three seconds remaining.

The Timberwolves were unable to foul on the ensuing inbounds possession, and the Clippers walked away from Target Center in Minneapolis with an 89-88 victory.

“We had a couple things going on. We had the quick 2 if we wanted it, I thought we had the quick 2, thought we had the catch and go quick 2, we had the pull behind and we had some outlets for 3,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “We knew we had another timeout, so the quick 2 would’ve set us up there and foul again and advance the ball, so that was ideal. But that didn’t happen, so we got it too late in the clock.”

Leonard was the driving force for the Clippers (39-20), pouring in 32 points to go along with five rebounds, two steals an assist and a block. He had it going in a game in which the Clippers’ two other stars — Paul George and James Harden — couldn't find a rhythm, shooting a combined 5 for 26. George had 15 points, and Harden had four. 

Norman Powell, however, was a problem for the Timberwolves (42-19) as he helped the Clippers out of an early funk and shot white-hot from 3-point range, scoring 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a 6-for-8 mark from long range.

“(Powell) was awesome. He was great for them,” Finch said. “He was huge, we had a hard time of containing him. He made all the shots he needed to make.”

The Timberwolves put together one of their best quarters of the season in the first, scoring the first nine points of the game on their way to a 30-18 advantage by the end of the frame. Karl-Anthony Towns was lights out, pouring in 12 points in the quarter.

Towns, however, didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, though he was effective passing out of double teams, tallying eight assists for the game. 

He also had 18 points and nine rebounds.

Powell hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter that was the beginning of a 16-0 Clippers run that erased Minnesota’s dominant first quarter. 

Naz Reid hit a 3-pointer midway through the Clippers run that was waved off after review showed he stepped out of bounds.

The Clippers entered the half with a 49-46 advantage.

Edwards was the scoring punch for the Timberwolves for most of the day, finishing the game with 27 points, but he went quiet in the fourth, posting just two points — the dunk with three seconds remaining.

Both teams struggled from the field. Minnesota shot just 39% from the field and 27% from 3-point range, while the Clippers hit at marks for 38% and 29%.

But in the end, it all came down to the final play, and the Timberwolves came out on the wrong end against a potential playoff opponent for the second straight game.  

Final key stats

• Anthony Edwards: 27 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists
• Karl-Anthony Towns: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists
• Rudy Gobert: 12 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists
• Kawhi Leonard: 32 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, 1 block
• Norman Powell: 24 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles as Los Angeles Clippers guard Bones Hyland (5) defends during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on March 3, 2024 :: Matt Krohn / USA TODAY Sports