NBA regular season, a focus battle in the West, the Clippers against the Timberwolves. The Clippers lost both previous encounters this season, but with Kazi Ge's return, the team is confident and vows to end their losing streak on the road and seek revenge. The Timberwolves are in poor form with three consecutive losses, but they have a psychological advantage, plus it's their home court, so they believe they can complete the triple kill. Even with Kazi Ge's return, they're ready to give him a beating.
The Clippers took control early, quickly getting into the game's rhythm and dominating the first half, leading by as much as 19 points. However, the third quarter saw a dramatic change, with the Clippers unable to score, struggling defensively, and committing numerous turnovers. The Timberwolves seized the opportunity, using defensive counterattacks and fast breaks to go on a 17-0 run and take the lead. Harden scored nine straight points to halt the decline, and Batum hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the third quarter with the Clippers trailing 76-77.
Both teams returned to an even playing field, with Coffey making two free throws, Randle attacking strongly, Powell missing shots repeatedly, Randle making a turnover, Jones returning the favor, Diving hitting a long-range three-pointer, Porter missing a fadeaway jump shot, Diving's long-range attempt falling short, Coffey missing a three-pointer, Reid scoring again, and the Timberwolves stopping the Clippers at 84-78.
After Harden returned, the Clippers' offense improved immediately, with Powell and Porter finding their scoring touch. However, the team's defense remained weak, allowing their opponents to score easily. Zubac had a big block, but Jones countered with a fast break, forcing the Clippers to call a timeout at 85-89. Powell continued his three-point shooting, but Harden missed a mid-range shot, squandering a chance to take the lead.
Edwards and Reid missed shots consecutively, giving the Clippers opportunities, and Porter scored on a fast break to put them ahead. Zubac blocked Gobert, who then lost his composure and shoved Zubac, earning a foul. Harden successfully stole the ball, and Jones made a fast break, reducing the gap to five points. Edwards broke his scoring drought, but Harden couldn't respond with a three-pointer. Porter fought for an offensive rebound, but the referees made a wrong call, awarding the ball to the Timberwolves, which greatly upset the Clippers. Tyronn Lue stormed onto the court to argue with the referees, clearly indicating the home-court advantage.
Diving missed a three-pointer, and Porter made a turnover on a fast break, while Edwards hit a three-pointer on a fast break. Harden attempted a layup, but both Edwards and Harden missed their three-pointers. Daniels hit a corner three-pointer, Powell scored three points, and Edwards followed up with another three-pointer. Zubac missed a shot, but Edwards hit another three-pointer, sealing the game. In the end, the Timberwolves completed a remarkable 19-point comeback, achieving a triple kill over the Clippers.
The Clippers lost a promising game, with Kazi Ge scoring only eight points. His absence in the second half was felt, as he could have made a difference in the crucial moments by limiting Edwards' performance. It seems he hasn't fully recovered, causing a headache for the team.