On January 7, 2025, Beijing time, the match between the Timberwolves and the Clippers was a thrilling basketball drama full of ups and downs! On one side were the Timberwolves with a record of 17 wins and 17 losses, and on the other side were the Clippers with a record of 20 wins and 15 losses. This game itself was full of highlights. More importantly, this was Leonard's second game back from injury, and his performance against the tall and defensively strong Timberwolves was undoubtedly the focus of everyone's attention. Who could have expected that the game would be so unpredictable, with the Timberwolves completing a great comeback after trailing by 19 points at one point, eventually narrowly defeating the Clippers 108-106. The plot was more exciting than a Hollywood blockbuster!
The game started with both sides quickly getting into the game. Gobert scored 1 point from the free throw line first, Powell made two free throws, Gobert's dunk and Dunn's hook shot against each other, and the Clippers temporarily led 4-3. Then, Edwards opened fire, scoring 4 points in a row to help the Timberwolves overtake by 3 points. But then, Leonard, Harden, Powell, Zubac teamed up to score a 9-0 run, instantly overtaking by 6 points, forcing the Timberwolves to call a timeout. After the timeout, Leonard's layup expanded the Clippers' lead to 8 points.
McDaniels' three-pointer slightly narrowed the gap, but Leonard, Harden, Mann, Coffey scored another 10-0 run, bringing the gap to 15 points. Reid's putback and Edwards' breakaway dunk brought the gap to 11 points. Harden's floater and DiVincenzo's two free throws made the Clippers lead 27-16 at the end of the first quarter. In this quarter, the Clippers showed strong offensive firepower, with multiple points blooming, especially Leonard's state after returning from injury, which was eye-catching and brought huge pressure to the Timberwolves' defense.
In the second quarter, Powell made a 2+1, expanding the Clippers' lead to 14 points. Walker and Reid's scores allowed the Timberwolves to start catching up, reducing the gap to 9 points. However, Jones, Coffey, Zubac's consecutive scores brought the gap to 19 points. After the timeout, Gobert's dunk tried to narrow the gap, Zubac's layup responded, and the gap remained at 19 points.
Reid and Conley's consecutive scores allowed the Timberwolves to once again exert force to catch up, reducing the gap to 12 points. Powell and Harden's three-pointers stabilized the situation for the Clippers. But Conley, McDaniels, Edwards, Gobert's consecutive scores brought the gap to 5 points. Finally, Powell made two free throws, and the Clippers led 53-46 at halftime. In this quarter, the Timberwolves gradually found their rhythm, constantly narrowing the gap, while the Clippers also worked hard to maintain the lead, with both sides going back and forth, and the game entered a stalemate.
Entering the third quarter, Zubac's hook shot gave the Clippers a 9-point lead. But Randle's free throws and Edwards' 2+1 quickly reduced the gap to 5 points. Zubac's dunk brought the gap back to 7 points. At this moment, Edwards, DiVincenzo, Randle scored consecutively, and the Timberwolves launched a 17-0 run, taking the lead by 10 points in one fell swoop. After the timeout, Harden scored 8 points in a row, showing his super personal ability, Edwards' three-pointer responded, making the gap 4 points. Powell's layup reduced the gap to 2 points. Reid and Edwards' scores widened the gap to 9 points again. Coffey, Harden, Batum's 8-0 run reduced the gap to 1 point. At the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves overtook 77-76, successfully reversing the situation. In this quarter, the Timberwolves seemed to suddenly wake up, playing with momentum, while the Clippers were caught off guard, and the situation of the game changed dramatically.
In the final quarter, the game entered a white-hot stage. Coffey made two free throws to give the Clippers a 1-point lead. But Randle, DiVincenzo, and Reid's scores allowed the Timberwolves to overtake by 6 points again. After the timeout, Conley's free throws and DiVincenzo's layup gave the Timberwolves a 9-point lead. Powell's layup was responded by Conley's layup, and the gap remained at 9 points. Porter and Jones' scores reduced the gap to 4 points. After the timeout, Reid's hook shot changed the gap to 6 points. Zubac, Powell, Porter, and Jones scored an 11-0 run, giving the Clippers a 5-point lead. Edwards' 2+1 followed by a three-pointer, the Timberwolves overtook by 1 point. Harden's layup overtook by 1 point, McDaniels' three-pointer allowed the Timberwolves to overtake by 2 points again.
After the Clippers called a timeout, there was 1 minute and 49 seconds left in the game. After the timeout, Powell made a 2+1 to overtake by 1 point, Edwards hit two three-pointers in a row, overtaking by 5 points again. The Clippers called another timeout, with 34 seconds left in the game. After the timeout, Powell missed a shot, Reid made one of two free throws, Powell dunked, and the gap was 4 points. Edwards made one of two free throws, Jones made one of two free throws but the Clippers grabbed the rebound, Harden missed a three-pointer, Porter grabbed the rebound and scored a jumper while drawing a foul, but missed the free throw. In the end, the Timberwolves narrowly defeated the Clippers 108-106. In this quarter, both sides chased each other's scores, with every ball crucial to the outcome, and the tension of the game reached its peak. The Timberwolves completed this astonishing comeback with tenacious will and excellent performance.
In this game, both sides' players showed extremely high competitive levels. On the Clippers' side, Leonard's state gradually warmed up after returning from injury, and his scoring and defense brought great help to the team. Harden's organizing and scoring abilities were still outstanding, and he repeatedly saved the team in critical moments. And the Timberwolves' Edwards was undoubtedly the focus of the game, scoring high throughout the game, constantly inspiring his teammates when the team was behind, and leading the team to complete the reversal. Gobert's defense and rebound protection in the paint also laid the foundation for the Timberwolves' reversal.
From a tactical perspective, the Clippers initially took the lead through smooth offensive cooperation in the early stages of the game, but after being disrupted by the Timberwolves in the third quarter, they failed to adjust in time. While the Timberwolves did not panic when they were behind, they gradually regained their form through active defense and team cooperation, ultimately achieving the reversal.