The Minnesota Timberwolves ran into a buzzsaw in their latest home matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, falling 115-96 in a game that exposed some of the team’s current offensive struggles. Despite bringing energy and effort, Minnesota just couldn’t keep pace-especially once Kawhi Leonard caught fire and never looked back.
Leonard was surgical, dropping 41 points in a performance that reminded everyone why he’s still one of the most efficient scorers in the league. The Clippers fed off his rhythm and pulled away late, turning a competitive game into a blowout down the stretch.
For the Timberwolves, there were flashes of promise, even in the loss. One of the brighter spots came in the form of Ayo Dosunmu, who made his debut after arriving from Chicago.
While the box score won’t do him many favors, Dosunmu brought a noticeable jolt of energy off the bench. He pressured the ball, got the team into their sets, and communicated well-something Anthony Edwards made sure to point out postgame.
“I mean, Ayo came in and brought great energy,” Edwards said. “Bones, he always brings it.
Like I said, everybody brought the energy tonight. I don’t think that was the problem at all.
I think it was just offense.”
That was the story of the night-plenty of hustle, not enough buckets. Edwards himself finished with 23 points in 35 minutes, but it wasn’t his most efficient outing. He struggled with his shot and had a few turnovers, unable to spark the kind of scoring run the Timberwolves needed to keep pace with the Clippers' surging attack.
Still, Edwards gave the home crowd something to remember. In the second half, he unleashed a thunderous right-handed dunk over Brook Lopez that brought the Target Center to its feet. It was a flash of the explosive athleticism that’s made Edwards one of the league’s most exciting young stars-even if those highlight-reel dunks have become a little less frequent this season.
The game also featured some late-game tension, with a heated exchange between Kris Dunn and Julius Randle adding a layer of drama. But when the dust settled, it was clear: the Clippers simply executed better, especially in the halfcourt.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will try to regroup quickly as they prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks. With Dosunmu now in the mix and the bench showing signs of life, there’s reason to believe Minnesota can bounce back. The key will be rediscovering their offensive rhythm and tightening up execution-especially against teams that can score in bunches like the Clippers just did.
Off the court, the Timberwolves continue to evaluate ways to bolster the roster. They know they’ve got a special centerpiece in Edwards, and the front office seems intent on building the kind of depth and stability needed to make a serious push in the Western Conference.
There’s still time to course-correct, and with Edwards leading the charge, this team isn’t going away quietly. But if they want to be taken seriously as contenders, the offense has to catch up to the energy.