Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) works around Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) in the first quarter of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards scored 21 points on 7-for-21 shooting to help the Minnesota Timberwolves stop a four-game losing streak by holding off the Los Angeles Clippers 93-92 in an NBA Cup game Friday night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Julius Randle added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who overcame 22 turnovers and another blown double-digit lead.
James Harden had 20 points and 11 assists and Ivica Zubac added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who went ahead 90-87 with 4:10 left on Harden’s four-point play for their first lead since 27-26.
READ: NBA: Anthony Edwards calls Timberwolves ‘soft’ amid losing streak
Minnesota's CLUTCH offensive rebounding on the last possession helps them secure the #EmiratesNBACup W…
Finishing 2-2 in West Group A play! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/W51CHacTpm
— NBA (@NBA) November 30, 2024
Kevin Porter Jr., who had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers, rolled his left ankle on a drive to the basket with 1:29 left as he lost the ball out of bounds with his team trailing by three.
The Timberwolves finished 2-2 in West Group A. The Clippers are 1-2 with one group stage game left. Both teams are long shots to reach the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament.
Takeaways
Clippers: With star Kawhi Leonard (knee) yet to play this season and starter Norman Powell (hamstring) sidelined for his sixth straight game, the Clippers have been hanging in there in the loaded West.
Timberwolves: The 11-point second-quarter lead evaporated in the type of funk that has troubled this team since reaching the conference finals last season, be it from a lack of intensity on defense, a stoppage of movement on offense, or both. With three straight turnovers to start the second half, the Timberwolves found themselves in a tie game soon after.
READ: NBA: Sengun triple-double pushes Rockets past Wolves
Key moment
Edwards hit a pull-up 3-pointer with 2:24 to go for a 92-90 lead.
Key stat
The Clippers made only one basket, a layup by Zubac, over the final four minutes.
Up next
The Clippers host Denver Sunday. The Timberwolves host the Lakers on Monday.