Clippers stay hot, cruise past Timberwolves behind Leonard's 45

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – For a team that once looked buried in the Western Conference standings, Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome felt like another chapter in one of the NBA’s most unlikely turnarounds.

Behind a dominant 45-point performance from Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers overwhelmed the Minnesota Timberwolves 153–128, pushing the Clippers above .500 for the first time after once falling 15 games below earlier this season.

At 33–32, the Clippers are now the first team in NBA history to climb back above .500 after being at least 15 games under in the same season — a remarkable reversal for a team that opened the year 6–21.

Afterward, head coach Tyronn Lue reflected on the long climb.

“We’re not done yet,” Lue said. “I’m proud of our coaching staff and the players. We’ve had a long climb and we still have 17 games to go, but I’m very proud of our group. I’m proud of our coaching and front office.”

Kawhi in Control

From the opening tip, the night belonged to Leonard.

He scored 18 points in the first quarter alone, setting the tone as the Clippers jumped to a 38–27 lead. By halftime he already had 28, slicing through Minnesota’s defense with midrange jumpers, drives, and timely three-pointers.

By the end of the third quarter — when the Clippers had already poured in 108 points — Leonard had 39. He finished with 45 points, five rebounds and five assists in just 31 minutes.

It was another milestone night for the Clippers star.

Leonard passed JJ Redick for third place on the franchise’s all-time three-point list and extended his streak to 43 consecutive games with 20 or more points — the second-longest run in franchise history. He now sits one game shy of tying Bob McAdoo for the longest such streak by a Clipper.

Help Across the Board

While Leonard dominated, the Clippers’ supporting cast ensured the game never tightened.

Darius Garland added 21 points and six assists in just 23 minutes, continuing to settle into his role since arriving in a midseason trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Clippers are now 5–1 in games Garland has played.

Off the bench, Bennedict Mathurin stayed red-hot with 22 points, three assists and two rebounds in 25 minutes. Jordan Miller chipped in 14 points and seven assists, helping keep the offense flowing even while missing all four of his three-point attempts.

The Clippers shot 51 percent from beyond the arc and buried 19 three-pointers overall.

But the real separation came defensively.

Los Angeles forced 21 Minnesota turnovers and collected 16 steals, with Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. each grabbing four. The Clippers’ largest lead ballooned to 31 points as their pressure defense turned steals into transition scoring all night.

A Different Outcome

The performance was especially striking considering the teams’ last meeting in Los Angeles.

On Feb. 26, Minnesota held the Clippers to just 88 points in a victory. On Wednesday, Los Angeles scored 108 through three quarters alone.

Anthony Edwards tried to keep Minnesota competitive, finishing with a team-high 36 points and five assists while shooting 11-of-17 from the field. Naz Reid added 18 points off the bench, while Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels each scored 11.

But the Timberwolves never found the defensive rhythm that carried them two weeks earlier.

A Season Rewritten

Three months ago, the Clippers’ season appeared finished before it had even begun. Now, they’ve won six of their last seven games in March and are climbing the Western Conference standings at exactly the right time.

The turnaround, as Lue emphasized, has been organizational — from coaching adjustments to roster additions to the steady brilliance of Leonard, who has played at an MVP-caliber level during the surge. And on a night when the Clippers rewrote a piece of NBA history, their best player delivered a performance worthy of it.

The Clippers will try to keep the momentum rolling Friday night at Intuit Dome when they host the Chicago Bulls.