Takeaways: Timberwolves again rally late, beat Clippers for 5th consecutive victory

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Dec 6, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS — Like they did in two games this week in New Orleans, the Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t really start playing Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers until they had to.

After being down double digits most of the first three quarters, the Wolves stormed back late in the third and the fourth for a 109-106 victory over the Clippers. The Wolves have now won five in a row. The Wolves did their damage in the fourth with Anthony Edwards on the bench, as Edwards had 15 points on 3-for-11 shooting.

Jaden McDaniels saved the Wolves from falling into a deep hole most of the night with 27 points as the Clippers led by as many as 18 points.

Julius Randle added 24 while Naz Reid had 19 off the bench including the decisive bucket. Jaylen Clark helped inspire the fourth-quarter run with his defense and hustle while adding eight points.

James Harden had 34 for the Clippers, and he passed Carmelo Anthony for 10th place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

With the score tied at 104 after a timeout, McDaniels missed a midrange jumper but the Wolves got the rebound, and the ball swung to Reid in the left corner for a 3 with 13.1 seconds to play and a three-point Wolves lead. After a Harden layup, McDaniels hit a pair of free throws with 4.8 seconds left. Harden missed just before the buzzer.

To open the fourth quarter, coach Chris Finch went with a heavy bench unit that featured Mike Conley, Reid and Clark with starters McDaniels and Randle. McDaniels continued his strong night offensively while the Wolves got enough stops to get back in the game. An 11-2 run agave them their first lead (85-83) since 5-4.

Reid gave the Wolves a four-point possession when he rebounded a Wolves free-throw miss and then hit a corner 3.

Strong night for McDaniels

McDaniels had nine consecutive points for the Wolves in the third quarter as they finally got the Clippers’ lead under double digits for the first time since 23-15. He had 19 points through three quarters as the Wolves trailed 78-72 after three. He found success off the dribble and in transition. He finished the game 10 for 13 from the floor and 3 for 3 from 3-point range.

Lack of flow

The Wolves offense has rarely looked as bogged down as it did Saturday. In the first half, they had only 10 assists to 10 turnovers and they shot 2 for 10 from 3-point range. The Clippers deploy a heavy switching defense that forces the Wolves, already a heavy isolation team, to play more that way as opposed to swinging the ball around the perimeter on double teams. Edwards tried to get going in the first half by getting to the free-throw line (he was 6 for 6), but the Wolves still trailed 56-42 after two quarters .

Both Conley and Rudy Gobert didn’t take a shot in the first half.

Sloppy start

Even though the Clippers were the team on a back-to-back, they had more energy and urgency than the Wolves. The Wolves opened the night with seven turnovers (three for Edwards after he had eight Thursday against New Orleans) in the first quarter compared to nine field goals. The shots they did generate had a high degree of difficulty. Their defense wasn’t much better, as the Clippers shot 57% and had no turnovers. That added up to a 34-22 lead for Los Angeles after one quarter. McDaniels was the Wolves’ best offense with seven points.

Up next

The Wolves face the Phoenix Suns at home on Monday night, the first game between the teams since the Wolves blew an eight-point lead in the final minute of a 114-113 loss last month.

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