Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell came through with a steady stream of clutch makes. Patrick Beverley supplied the intensity in an emotional triumph over his former team.
The Minnesota Timberwolves proved they belong in the playoffs, and that rare air for this franchise is just where they’re headed.
Edwards and Russell combined for 59 points to help the Timberwolves overcome a rough night for Karl-Anthony Towns and beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in their play-in game.
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“The game had to go in a different direction,” coach Chris Finch said. “That’s why you have a team, because a lot of other people step up.”
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The most central figure in this matchup might have been Beverley, the relentless defender and ace agitator who spent the last four seasons with the Clippers.
The NBA announced a $33,600 (AUD) fine for Beverley shortly before tipoff for his “improper conduct” in Minnesota’s last game toward referee David Guthrie, at whom he yelled, “you’re trash” on his way off the court following his ejection for a second technical foul.
Beverley got a technical in the third quarter of this game, too, after tussling with Marcus Morris Sr. Far more importantly, he had seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
“When he’s in that mode, it ignites the team,” Paul George said. “It ignites the arena.”
Edwards scored 30 points with five 3-pointers and Russell had 29 points and six assists to send the Wolves to the No.7 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup with Memphis.
“Just utilizing what we have,” Russell said. “We’ve got a lot of pieces that complement each other.”
George finished with 34 points after shooting 2 for 10 in the first half for the Clippers, who have a second chance to make the playoffs with a home game on Friday for the No.8 seed against either New Orleans or San Antonio.
Reggie Jackson (17 points) and Norman Powell (16 points) did their part in stretches, but the Clippers failed to create enough separation when the Timberwolves were sputtering through most of the first half.
Towns had only 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting and fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, but his sidekicks were more than up to the challenge.
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“I took what the game gave me. That’s what they gave me. They were scared to guard me, and I took advantage of that,” Edwards said.
Jackson’s 3-pointer gave the Clippers their largest lead of the game at 93-83 with 8:54 remaining, but about 4 minutes later Russell knocked down the go-ahead 3-pointer for a 97-95 advantage the Wolves never relinquished. He saluted the crowd for the punctuation.
Edwards followed with a tomahawk dunk after blowing by Powell at the top of the key.
“I’m one of the best defensive guys on earth, and no one can guard him,” said Beverley, who was in tears during the spirited celebration afterward as Edwards hopped up on the scorer’s table.
The fans were fired up for this fast-paced, fast-improving team that’s headed to the playoffs for the second time in 17 years, but the buzz wore off a bit in the third quarter while George found his groove with a smooth 15 points.
Then Towns fouled out with 7:34 to go, less than 2 minutes after he had just checked back in.
“They played a lot better without KAT on the floor,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “They got into us defensively. They switched on a lot more stuff. I just didn’t think we made the right plays.”
The Clippers had success disrupting Towns during the regular season when they won three of the four matchups, losing only in January when George was out, and they spared no energy attacking the two-time All-Star center from every which way. Nicolas Batum was his primary tormentor, but most of the Clippers had a hand in it.
Towns failed to make a basket in the first half for the first time in more than three years, an 0-for-7 clunker. His only points came on a pair of free throws, and he flashed a sarcastic smile and pumped his first after getting that call.
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