New-Look T-Wolves Hit the Target

This was supposed to be an easy win for the Los Angeles Clippers. On a strong streak & feeling healthy going into the latter stages of the season; the Clippers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center; a team they had just beaten rather easily about a week ago; and who were on a thirteen-game losing streak; a disappointingly poor losing record and had just re-organised their roster drastically to bring in no less than nine players; including star guard D'Angelo Russell from the Golden State Warriors. They also had the worst three-point shooting percentage of the whole NBA.

They obviously didn't read the script though. What happened was the exact opposite; as the new-look T-Wolves team came out with energy and purpose; and unleashed a three-point exhibition to totally overwhelm the dazed & confused Clippers. They hit a franchise-record 26 shots from beyond the arc; recording a quite-unbelievable 59.1% clip. When the dust had settled; the T-Wolves had swaggered their way to a scarcely-believable 142-115 blowout; with seven players in double figures and new signing Malik Beasley leading the way.

And the night was summed up by 5'11" point guard Jordan McLaughlin penetrating deep into the Clippers area for two consecutive slam dunks (the second a reverse one at that); another new signing Allen Crabbe hitting a remarkable last-ditch three-pointer with 0.2 second left at the end of the third quarter; and reserve power forward Naz Reid hitting consecutive three-pointers late on to put the icing on the cake. And in a very rare sequence; Doc Rivers actually elected to pull his entire starting five with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to bring in the third-string reserves. It was that kind of a night.