Towns, Edwards help Timberwolves rally in second half for 121-100 victory over Clippers
LOS ANGELES (AP) Karl-Anthony Towns scored 24 points, Anthony Edwards added 23 and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away in the second half for a 121-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Timberwolves (37-16) remained atop the Western Conference with their third win in the last four games.
It is the 10th time the Timberwolves have won this season when trailing at halftime, which is second in the NBA.
“I didn’t think we brought enough force or physicality to the game in the first half. I thought we played good basketball but there was a bunch of plays where they just were way more physical than we were,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “All credit to the guys. They recognize that and set the tone at the start of the second half.”
The Timberwolves trailed 53-49 at halftime, but seized control in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 40-19.
“We’re doing a good job of being focused. We listen to coach and do a good job in the third quarter of adjusting after seeing it and not committing the same sentence,” Towns said.
Minnesota started the second half with eight straight points, but it wasn't until midway through the third quarter that it was able to pull away.
Minnesota trailed 64-62 midway through the quarter before it went on a 27-8 run to close the third.
The Timberwolves had a 12-2 spurt to close the quarter as Towns scored eight straight points and Edwards had a reverse layup to give them an 89-72 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
Minnesota was 12 of 19 from the field in the quarter. Edwards and Towns were both 6 of 6 at the line as the Timberwolves made all 13 of their foul shots in the period.
Meanwhile, the Clippers were 7 of 20 from the field and committed five turnovers that resulted in six Minnesota points.
“We were playing very good in the first half. We were just missing the little extra effort and giving them rebounds. Once we cleaned that up, we had great defensive possessions and were able to run on them,” Gobert said.
The Timberwolves’ largest lead was 24 points during the fourth quarter.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 18 points apiece and James Harden added 17.
George became the Clippers' career 3-point leader with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter, hitting his 739th to surpass Eric Piatkowski.
“They played better than we did. Outcoached us, outplayed us and everything,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I thought just the physicality and attention to detail, they were better.”
Los Angeles, which is 27-7 since the start of December, is in third place in the Western Conference with a 35-17 record.
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: At Portland for two straight games beginning Tuesday.
Clippers: At Golden State on Wednesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Rudy Gobert vs. Ivica Zubac (Karl-Anthony Towns gains possession) | ||
| 12:00 | | Timberwolves delay of game violation | ||
| 11:38 |  | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving floating jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:19 | | Ivica Zubac offensive foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 11:19 | | Ivica Zubac turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:58 | | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:54 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 10:54 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point tip layup | ||
| 10:53 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 10:50 | | Paul George misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:49 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 10:37 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving hook shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 4-0 |
| 10:19 | | Mike Conley shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 10:19 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-1 |
| 10:19 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-2 |
| 10:06 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop dunk (Mike Conley assists) | 6-2 |
| 9:49 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 6-5 |
| 9:29 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 9:27 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | James Harden misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:17 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:05 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving hook shot (Mike Conley assists) | 8-5 |
| 8:36 | | Terance Mann misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:34 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:17 | | Mike Conley misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 8:14 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 8:06 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:04 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 7:52 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:49 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | James Harden misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:34 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 7:24 | | Jaden McDaniels turnover (lost ball) (Paul George steals) | ||
| 7:07 | | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Paul George draws the foul) | ||
| 7:07 | | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-6 |
| 7:07 | | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-7 |
| 6:57 | | Paul George personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 6:57 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:41 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 10-7 |
| 6:21 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 10-9 |
| 6:06 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving floating jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 12-9 |
| 5:42 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point hook shot | ||
| 5:39 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 5:27 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point hook shot | ||
| 5:25 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 5:15 | | Ivica Zubac turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | ||
| 5:07 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:04 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 4:54 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 4:52 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 4:39 | | Ivica Zubac shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 4:39 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-9 |
| 4:39 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-9 |
| 4:28 | | Mason Plumlee turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Anderson steals) | ||
| 4:24 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:24 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 4:22 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 4:16 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point driving layup | 14-11 |
| 4:16 | | Naz Reid shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | ||
| 4:16 | | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-12 |
| 4:07 | | Norman Powell shooting foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 4:07 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-12 |
| 4:07 | | +1 | Rudy Gobert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-12 |
| 4:01 | | Anthony Edwards shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | ||
| 4:01 | | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-13 |
| 4:01 | | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 3:58 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 3:52 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 16-15 |
| 3:51 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:33 | | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point driving layup (Naz Reid assists) | 18-15 |
| 3:20 | | Mason Plumlee turnover (lost ball) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker steals) | ||
| 3:15 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point running layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 20-15 |
| 3:01 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:59 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup | 22-15 |
| 2:40 | | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:38 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 2:33 | | Kawhi Leonard shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 2:33 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:33 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 2:33 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-15 |
| 2:08 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 1:58 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:56 | | Norman Powell defensive rebound | ||
| 1:53 | | Kyle Anderson personal foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | ||
| 1:53 | | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-16 |
| 1:53 | | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-17 |
| 1:41 | | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 26-17 |
| 1:29 | | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (Amir Coffey assists) | 26-20 |
| 1:02 | | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point pullup jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 28-20 |
| 0:49 | | Karl-Anthony Towns blocks Norman Powell's two point driving layup | ||
| 0:45 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 0:45 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 0:30 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point driving dunk | 28-22 |
| 0:15 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:13 | | Kyle Anderson offensive rebound | ||
| 0:12 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point putback layup | ||
| 0:10 | | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | ||
| 0:08 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point running dunk (Mason Plumlee assists) | 28-24 |
| 0:00 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:48 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point driving layup (Mason Plumlee assists) | 28-26 |
| 11:48 | | Naz Reid defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 11:38 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point hook shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 30-26 |
| 11:16 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:16 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 11:03 | | Amir Coffey personal foul (Naz Reid draws the foul) | ||
| 10:56 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:53 | | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | +3 | Amir Coffey makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 30-29 |
| 10:18 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point floating jump shot | 32-29 |
| 9:52 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:50 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 35-29 |
| 9:17 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point driving layup | 35-31 |
| 9:05 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:02 | | Mason Plumlee defensive rebound | ||
| 8:56 | | +2 | Mason Plumlee makes two point cutting dunk (Russell Westbrook assists) | 35-33 |
| 8:41 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:39 | | Norman Powell defensive rebound | ||
| 8:31 | | Norman Powell misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:28 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 38-33 |
| 7:54 | | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:52 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 7:44 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:44 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 7:32 | | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point driving floating jump shot | 40-33 |
| 7:07 | | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:05 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | +3 | Monte Morris makes three point pullup jump shot | 43-33 |
| 6:56 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:40 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists) | 43-35 |
| 6:23 | | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:20 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | ||
| 6:06 | | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 43-36 |
| 6:06 | | +1 | Ivica Zubac makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 43-37 |
| 5:43 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:42 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 5:42 | | Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 5:27 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:24 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 5:15 | | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:11 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 4:53 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point turnaround jump shot (James Harden assists) | 43-39 |
| 4:25 | | Monte Morris misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:23 | | Terance Mann defensive rebound | ||
| 4:12 | | James Harden misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 4:05 | | Monte Morris blocks Terance Mann's two point cutting layup | ||
| 4:03 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 | | Rudy Gobert blocks Ivica Zubac's two point putback dunk | ||
| 3:58 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 3:52 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point driving floating jump shot | 43-41 |
| 3:28 | | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:23 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | Rudy Gobert turnover (lost ball) (Terance Mann steals) | ||
| 3:12 | | Rudy Gobert blocks Kawhi Leonard's two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:09 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 3:04 | | James Harden misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:00 | | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | ||
| 2:53 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point pullup jump shot (Ivica Zubac assists) | 43-43 |
| 2:53 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:39 | | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 45-43 |
| 2:19 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker personal foul (Kawhi Leonard draws the foul) | ||
| 2:13 | | Jaden McDaniels blocks Kawhi Leonard's two point driving dunk | ||
| 2:13 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:08 | | Paul George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:06 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 1:51 | | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point cutting layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 47-43 |
| 1:25 | | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 47-44 |
| 1:25 | | James Harden misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | ||
| 1:25 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:25 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 47-45 |
| 1:14 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 49-45 |
| 0:55 | | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point driving layup (Paul George assists) | 49-47 |
| 0:32 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | James Harden defensive rebound | ||
| 0:25 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point running pullup jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 49-50 |
| 0:06 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | ||
| 0:00 | | +3 | James Harden makes three point jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 49-53 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |