Kawhi Leonard’s Masterclass Leads Clippers Past Struggling Timberwolves 115-96
In a season defined by roster shuffles and inconsistent stretches, the Los Angeles Clippers found stability on Sunday in the form of their quiet superstar. Kawhi Leonard didn’t just play; he dissected the Minnesota Timberwolves, pouring in 41 points and grabbing eight rebounds in a commanding 115-96 victory at the Target Center.
For a Clippers team navigating the integration of new faces and the absence of key acquisitions, this was exactly the kind of stabilizing performance head coach Tyronn Lue needed. Leonard controlled the tempo from the opening tip to the final buzzer, reminding the rest of the Western Conference that a healthy Kawhi remains one of the game’s ultimate equalizers.
Leonard Sparks the Offense While Others Step Up
The narrative coming into Sunday was about who wasn’t on the floor. Los Angeles was without Darius Garland, sidelined with a toe sprain following his trade from Cleveland, and Bennedict Mathurin, who is set to debut later this week. That left a void that Leonard was more than happy to fill.
He was surgical in the first half, scoring 24 points and spearheading a decisive 18-2 run late in the second quarter. That burst turned a competitive game into a 54-42 halftime cushion, effectively silencing the Minneapolis crowd. But Leonard wasn’t a solo act.
The Clippers received significant contributions from their supporting cast. John Collins, settling into his role, provided an efficient punch with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Perhaps the biggest surprise came from Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who matched Collins with 15 points of his own, giving Los Angeles a paint presence that Minnesota struggled to contain.
Just as the Timberwolves attempted to claw back momentum, the Clippers rattled off a 17-3 run to close the period. It was a suffocating stretch of basketball that highlighted the team’s defensive versatility and transition scoring.
Timberwolves Frustrations Mount in Minneapolis
On the other side of the court, the vibes could not have been more different. The Timberwolves are a team searching for answers, having now lost three of their last four games—all against opponents with sub-.500 records.
Fresh off a demoralizing loss to New Orleans, where they blew an 18-point lead, Minnesota looked disjointed. They committed 20 turnovers, a statistic that usually guarantees a loss in the modern NBA. Their shooting was equally abysmal, connecting on just 8 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc.
Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 23 points, but the box score hides a rough start. He went scoreless from deep in the first half (0-for-6) and coughed up four turnovers early on. Julius Randle added 17 points, but the team lacked the cohesion needed to challenge a focused Clippers squad.
The defensive lapses that Rudy Gobert called out earlier in the week were evident again. The Clippers shot efficiently and found open lanes, exploiting a Minnesota defense that seemed a step slow on rotations. Holding the Timberwolves under 100 points marks a significant defensive achievement for Los Angeles, marking only the second time this season that Minnesota has been held to double digits.
A Mixed Bag for Dosunmu’s Debut
If there was a silver lining for the home team, it was the debut of Ayo Dosunmu. Acquired recently from the Chicago Bulls, Dosunmu brought a spark of energy off the bench, finishing with 11 points and two steals.
“This is a great opportunity for me,” Dosunmu said before the game.
While his individual effort was solid, it wasn’t enough to cure the systemic issues plaguing Minnesota right now. The chemistry issues Gobert alluded to—citing a lack of urgency and accountability—don’t disappear overnight, and against a veteran-led team like the Clippers, those cracks are easily exposed.
What’s Next for the Clippers
This win pushes the Clippers to 25-27, keeping them in the thick of the Western Conference play-in race. More importantly, it buys them time. With Garland and Mathurin expected to join the rotation soon, the team is poised to look very different in a week.
If Sunday was any indication, the foundation is solid. When Leonard is operating at this level, and the role players defend with this intensity, Los Angeles becomes a team nobody wants to see in a seven-game series.
The Clippers will look to carry this momentum into Tuesday night when they travel to Houston. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will try to stop the bleeding when they host Atlanta on Monday, desperately searching for the effort and execution that eluded them on Sunday.
