LOS ANGELES — Anthony Edwards scored 37 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker added a game-high 28 and the Minnesota Timberwolves came back from an early 22-point deficit for a 118-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night .
Kawhi Leonard left the game with back spasms between the first two quarters, the Clippers said. He played the entire first quarter, but was seen leaving the Clippers’ downtown arena during the second quarter.
Mike Conley scored 23 points for the Timberwolves, who avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season thanks to a huge rally after Leonard’s departure. After trailing 57-35 midway through the second quarter in the same building where the Wolves lost to the Lakers two days earlier, Minnesota took control in the second half and staged the team’s biggest comeback since November 2012.
“It was no secret it was probably the biggest game of the season for us so far,” said Conley, who made five 3-pointers. “After losing a few games in a row, the same way we lost them and who we’re playing against, the Clippers. They’re with us as the top seed, so that meant a lot, and for us to steal this one today… hopefully we’ll set ourselves up for bigger and better things.
Rudy Gobert had eight points and 11 rebounds before leaving the game late with a rib injury. Coach Chris Finch was unsure of the severity of the injury, but he praised Gobert for increasing his defensive efforts after the Wolves fell behind, ultimately leading to their comeback.
“This team believes in itself,” Finch said. “When you play defense like we are capable of playing defense. The ball also moved a lot at times. I came out in transition. We really didn’t really see ourselves in such a transition. These were the things we needed to do to turn things around. But this team believes in each other, no matter who we put on the field. They root hard for each other. It’s good for us to get a win like this, because we’ve struggled a little bit the last two games to find consistent energy, and tonight we definitely had it.
Alexander-Walker made five 3-pointers in his best performance in a Minnesota uniform as the Timberwolves improved to 2-2 on their six-game road trip.
Paul George scored 22 points and James Harden had 12 for the Clippers, who have lost back-to-back games for only the second time since Christmas. George and Leonard returned after avoiding the Clippers’ home loss to Milwaukee in the club’s second home game in 10 p.m. last Sunday, although Leonard didn’t last long.
“They played harder than us, for sure, without a doubt,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We can talk about plans and other things, but when things aren’t going well, we have to be tougher.”
Lue also said Leonard had been suffering from back problems “for a few days. …I didn’t know if he was going to go this morning. I tried to get on the field and play today, but it just wouldn’t let him go.
Although Karl-Anthony Towns is out with a knee injury that may sideline him until the playoffs, Gobert returns from a one-game absence with a hamstring injury right. Gobert then apparently injured his ribs or sternum at some point in the second half, heading to the locker room in obvious pain.
Kyle Anderson had 10 points and seven assists in his return to the Wolves’ starting lineup after an absence due to right shoulder soreness, but guard Monte Morris missed his third straight game due to injury. a left hamstring strain.
Minnesota committed six turnovers while falling behind by 15 points in the first quarter, and Los Angeles’ lead grew to 57-35 midway through the second before the Wolves went on a 20-2 run shortly before the half-time. The Wolves took their first lead early in the third quarter and the Clippers managed just 15 points with nine turnovers in the period.
Towns underwent surgery on the torn meniscus in his left knee and the Timberwolves won’t evaluate him for four weeks. It seems likely he will miss the remainder of the regular season, but Finch said Towns’ absence for much of last season due to a calf injury prepared Minnesota for his current absence.
“Everyone goes through a tough time at some point (because of injuries),” Finch said. “We get it now.”
FOLLOWING
Timberwolves: at Utah on Saturday.
Clippers: At Chicago on Thursday.
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