Timberwolves Makes the Playoffs for the First Time Since 2018

MINNEAPOLIS, MN- D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards combined for 59 points as they would lead the Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36) to their first playoff game since the 2018-19 season with a 109-104 win over the Los Angeles Clippers (42-40).

Anthony Edwards opened up the game with seven-straight points for Minnesota. However, the Clippers responded with a 10-0 run to take an early 12-7 lead over the Timberwolves.

The Clippers increased their lead to nine points, but they entered the second quarter with a 26-20 lead. Edwards had another amazing quarter with eight points and helped Minnesota creep back into the game.

D’Angelo Russell followed with 14 points in the second quarter and led the Timberwolves on a 15-6 run, which gave Minnesota a 53-51 lead by halftime.

After halftime, the Clippers outscored Minnesota 33-25. Paul George scored 17 points in the third quarter, and LA entered the fourth quarter with an 84-78 lead.

Down 93-83, Minnesota went on a 21-5 run and had a 104-98 lead with 1:58 left within regulation. George responded with a three-pointer to cut Minnesota’s lead to three points.

Edwards then gets fouled while driving to the basket for a layup. Edwards made both free throws to give the Timberwolves a five-point lead.

George then missed a three-pointer, and Beverly secured the defensive rebound. He made a free throw to give the Timberwolves a 107-101 lead.

Edwards was then fouled and made a free throw to increase Minnesota’s lead. George then rushed up the court and made a quick three-pointer to cut the Timberwolves lead to four points.

A free throw from Malik Beasley and an offensive rebound from Beverly secured the win for Minnesota.

Edwards led the Timberwolves in scoring with 30 points, and Russell followed with 29 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

Timberwolves Early Foul Troubles

Minnesota found themselves in early foul trouble. Three of the Timberwolves starters had over three fouls by halftime.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the most affected, with four personal fouls in the first half. Towns couldn’t find a rhythm early and shot 0-of-7 from the field in the first half.

After halftime, Towns made his first field-goal with 7:06 left in the third quarter. A few minutes later, he picked up his fifth foul and didn’t play for the rest of the third quarter.

Towns were finally fouled-out of the game with 7:34 left within regulation. He finished the game with 11 points and five rebounds while shooting 3-of-11 (27.3%) from the field.

His only buckets in the first-half came from his two made free throws. Patrick Beverly and Edwards had three fouls by halftime.

LA Gets another shot

Despite this loss, the Clippers still have another chance at claiming a spot in the playoffs.

LA would have to face the winner of the San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans game for a possible eighth seed within the western conference.

Paul George bounced back this game after having a slow first half. He scored 34 points and had seven rebounds while shooting 10-of-24 (41.7%) from the field and 6-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Protester Glues Herself

A woman named Alicia Santurio appeared to be a worker lying down on the court.

She stopped the game for about three minutes and gave both the Timberwolves and the Clippers a chance to rejuvenate without using a timeout.

According to the TNT cast, the woman was protesting for a cause. Here’s the kicker, she was using glue to do so.

The woman glued her wrist to the court, and when security tried to remove her from the court, she refused. Eventually, security removed her, and the game continued immediately .

The woman was protesting for animal rights and towards Timberwolves’ majority owner Glen Taylor. According to a press release from Direct Action Everywhere, Taylor has a chicken farm that killed many chickens due to a bird flu outbreak.

Direct Action Everywhere is an animal rights global network that claims that Santurio is involved with their organization. They also claimed responsibility for her protest.