Edwards and Russell combined for 59 points to help the Timberwolves overcome a difficult night for Karl-Anthony Towns on Tuesday night, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in a play-in game. “The game needed to go a new path,” coach Chris Finch explained. “That is why you have a team; many others step up.”
Edwards finished with 30 points on five 3-pointers and Russell added 29 points and six assists to help the Wolves earn the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed and a first-round game against Memphis. “Just making the most of what we have,” Russell explained. “We have a lot of elements that work well together.”
Paul George ended with 34 points for the Clippers, who have a second opportunity to enter the playoffs with a home game against either New Orleans or San Antonio on Friday for the No. 8 seed.
Reggie Jackson (17 points) and Norman Powell (16 points) contributed in spurts, but the Clippers were unable to establish a comfortable lead while the Timberwolves were struggling for the majority of the first half. Towns finished with 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting and fouled out in the fourth quarter, but his supporting cast was more than equal to the task.
