The entire game saw the Timberwolves defeat the Clippers with a score of 108-106. In this match, the Clippers led by double digits in the first quarter but were continuously chased down by the Timberwolves in the following three quarters, ultimately suffering a reversal in the final moments. After the game, the Clippers faced four pieces of bad news.
Porter Jr. still needs to minimize his playing time in crucial moments due to his inconsistent ball handling. During that period, he made a fast-break turnover and a poor pass to Zubac, which were both very costly. Although Porter Jr. performed well in the first three quarters, Tyronn Lue still needs to be cautious in using him. If he makes mistakes in key moments, it can greatly affect the team's momentum.
Powell's usage also became problematic. There was a period where Powell was given excessive ball-handling responsibilities, which raises questions for anyone. Powell's advantage lies only in his three-point shooting, yet he has been attempting dribble drives, leading to a drop in shooting percentage and an increase in turnovers. More critically, he is unable to pass when driving. If he misses from outside, his teammates might still have a chance to grab the rebound, but this resulted in him shooting 7 out of 17 for the game, and Powell was restricted in the final moments.
Although Leonard has returned, he still requires a significant amount of time to recover. Given his current state, he can only play during regular times. Once he enters the decisive period, he struggles to score on offense and often leaves gaps on defense, so he usually checks out early in the third quarter. If he wants to fully recover, it may take about ten more games. Let's wait and see; once he warms up, the Clippers will be at full strength again.
However, the team's roster still harbors significant issues. On one hand, after Harden comes off the court, there is no backup point guard, forcing Harden to stay on the court for extended periods. Additionally, the Clippers lack a power forward, a position they have consistently been short of. Coupled with the absence of a substitute for Zubac, the game once again saw Batum playing as the center, but unfortunately, such a lineup was completely dominated on the court, becoming a persistent problem for the Clippers.