On January 7, 2025, the NBA regular season continued with intense competition as the Clippers faced off against the Timberwolves on the road. Prior to this game, the Clippers held a record of 20 wins and 5 losses, ranking 7th in the Western Conference, while the Timberwolves were ranked 10th with a record of 17 wins and 17 losses. In the previous round, the Clippers had a big win over the Hawks under the leadership of Leonard's return, but they failed to maintain their momentum and ultimately suffered a narrow defeat of 106-108, experiencing a significant 19-point comeback.
Game Review: The Clippers once led but failed to maintain their advantage
In this game, the Clippers fielded a starting lineup of Leonard, Harden, Powell, Zubac, and Dunn, while the Timberwolves were led by Edwards, Randle, Gobert, McDaniels, and DiVincenzo. At the beginning of the game, both teams had a relatively dull offensive rhythm and relied on free throws to open the scoring. As the game progressed, the Clippers gradually took the initiative and steadily widened the gap through stable offense. At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers led the Timberwolves 27-16.
Entering the second quarter, the Timberwolves began to counterattack, with Reed contributing 7 points and Conley also scoring 8 points, helping the team achieve a single-quarter score of 30-26. At halftime, the Clippers still maintained a 7-point lead, with the score at 53-46.
After changing sides for the second half, the Clippers, despite leading, failed to effectively control the game's rhythm, allowing the Timberwolves to gradually regain their form. As the score was narrowed, the Clippers' defense became lax, eventually allowing the Timberwolves to complete the comeback in the final stages of the game. Ultimately, the Clippers narrowly lost 106-108, missing out on a valuable victory.
The three indispensable core players:
- Kawhi Leonard
Leonard is undoubtedly one of the Clippers' cores, serving not only as the team's scoring machine but also as a super presence on defense. In this game, although the Clippers once led, Leonard did not fully exert his usual dominance, especially when the team encountered adversity, he did not lead the team to stabilize the situation as he usually does.
Leonard's influence extends beyond scoring; his sense of pressure on defense and ability to control key moments are an indispensable part of the Clippers. Without his strong two-way performance, the Clippers appear more vulnerable when facing pressure. Especially in the second half of the game, the Clippers' defensive slackness was exposed, and if Leonard could have more effectively driven the defense, it might have turned the tide of the game.
- James Harden
Harden's addition has brought a significant boost to the Clippers, particularly in organizing the offense and driving the team's rhythm. Although Harden's scoring ability was not the highlight of this game, his vision and passing skills on the court made the Clippers' offense more diverse and fluid. In the first half of the game, Harden created multiple opportunities, delivering assists to his teammates, helping the team expand their lead.
However, in the crucial moments of the second half, Harden's organization and offensive performance failed to timely lift the team's morale. When the Clippers' offense stalled, Harden should have taken on more responsibility, finding opportunities not only on the offensive end but also contributing more defensively. If Harden could have shown more leadership in the closing stages of the game, the Clippers might have avoided being reversed.
- Ivica Zubac
As the Clippers' center, Zubac's role in this game cannot be underestimated. Although he did not shine as brightly as the other two star players on the scoring charts, his presence was crucial for the Clippers' defense and rebounding battles. Zubac not only provided strong protection in the paint but also contributed rebounds that gave the Clippers second-chance scoring opportunities. In the Clippers' lineup, Zubac's defense and rebounding are almost the cornerstone of the team's stability.
However, in this game, Zubac's defensive performance was slightly lacking, especially when facing the Timberwolves' strong frontline, failing to effectively limit the scoring of players like Gobert. The Clippers need Zubac to be more resolute on defense, not allowing the opposition to score easily in critical moments. If Zubac can improve his defensive efficiency, the Clippers' interior defense will become even stronger.
Summary
Despite showing impressive offensive firepower in this game, the Clippers' three core players—Leonard, Harden, and Zubac—failed to meet expectations, resulting in the team's eventual reversal. To remain competitive in upcoming games, the Clippers need these three players to step up in critical moments, demonstrating their core value, especially in controlling the situation and stabilizing the team's performance during key moments of the game.