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Victor Petkov
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Timberwolves show great defense to beat Clippers 121-100
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Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with 24 points, complemented by Anthony Edwards, who contributed 23 points and eight assists

On Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a decisive 121-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in a highly anticipated matchup between two Western Conference powerhouses. Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with 24 points, complemented by Anthony Edwards, who contributed 23 points and eight assists.

Rudy Gobert notched an impressive performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 15 points. The TimberWolves, currently leading the conference, extended their road trip record to 2-1 ahead of the All-Star break.

Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid chipped in with 11 points each as Minnesota’s suffocating defense dominated, outscoring the Clippers 40-19 in the pivotal third quarter. Los Angeles struggled, shooting a mere 35 percent from the field during that period.

Despite efforts from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who scored 18 points each, and a 17-point contribution from James Harden, the Clippers were unable to overcome Minnesota’s defensive prowess. The TimberWolves maintained their top spot in the conference by limiting the Clippers to 40.5 percent shooting for the entire game.

Russell Westbrook tallied 11 points, and Ivica Zubac grabbed 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who have now lost two of their last three games. With a final game before the All-Star break scheduled against Golden State on Wednesday, Los Angeles’s home record dropped to 20-6.

The Timberwolves set the tone early, securing a 26-17 lead and maintaining a 28-24 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Building on this momentum, Minnesota stretched their lead to 10 points in the second quarter, entering halftime with a 53-49 edge.

Although the Clippers briefly took a 64-62 lead in the third quarter, a dominant 12-1 run by the Timberwolves propelled them to an 89-72 advantage, securing a comfortable lead they maintained until the end.

This victory marked the Timberwolves’ second win over the Clippers in the past month, further solidifying their standing in the Western Conference. The two teams are set to face each other again on March 3 in Minnesota and March 12 in Los Angeles.