MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Kawhi Leonard had 32 points and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 89-88 yesterday in a physical and defensive game between two of the top four teams in the Western Conference.
Norman Powell matched a season high with 24 points, and Paul George added 15 points but shot just five of 16 from the field and was three of 11 from three-point range.
“This was an old-school, 1985 game,” Los Angeles coach Tyronn Lue said. “But I loved the way we kept competing and kept guarding, defending.”
The Clippers played without Russell Westbrook after he fractured his left hand in a home victory over Washington on Friday night. Ivica Zubac returned after missing two games with an illness.
Anthony Edwards scored 27 points for Minnesota, which dropped a half-game behind Oklahoma City for the West lead when the Thunder won at Phoenix later Sunday. The Timberwolves lost back-to-back games for just the third time this season.
“It was a very physical game,” said Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, who had 12 points and 16 rebounds. “I thought there was a lot of touching, grabbing, just like a playoff game. I thought we started the game the right way. I think, over time, it was hard for us to get what we wanted.”
Leonard broke an 84-all tie with a layup with 2:01 remaining and added a free throw after being fouled by Karl-Anthony Towns.
Towns’ dunk with 1:40 left brought Minnesota within one, but Anthony Edwards missed a three and Towns was off the mark on a jumper before Leonard closed out the game with a pair of free throws.
Minnesota had one more possession but couldn’t find an open three and Edwards ended up driving for a layup. But the Wolves couldn’t foul on the inbound pass as time ran out.
“It was a tough game, neither team shoots over 40 per cent from the field, but that’s on me,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said.
