Less than a week after a first tight and defensive duel between the two teams, the Wolves are once again making their defense speak. They are very diligent, with Rudy Gobert stealing balls outside in front of Ivica Zubac. In a good rhythm, the attack follows the movement and Julius Randle shines with several 3-point baskets. The interior ends this first quarter with 16 points, the Wolves conclude with a 17-2 and after twelve minutes, the Clippers are on the ropes (14-33).
Chris Finch's troops hit the nail on the head at the start of the second quarter. In the minutes that follow, Julius Randle is less skillful, his teammates too, but the defense is still as effective, so James Harden and his gang cannot come back (32-59).
Halftime does not change anything in the dynamic of the match. Tyronn Lue has no solution up his sleeve: James Harden is missing his shoes, Ivica Zubac is cut from the game (only 9 points for the duo)…
In addition, Anthony Edwards is starting to show himself, making a series of baskets. We then arrive, at the end of the third quarter, at the 40 point difference!
Before the last quarter (50-86), the match is over and the two coaches logically open their bench at the start of the last act. The Wolves therefore come to win in the Intuit Dome (80-108) with a very authoritarian victory.
-WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Minnesota’s defense. In certain sequences, we saw again the defense of the Wolves from last season, so stifling, so united. A striking example: Rudy Gobert stole four balls on the outside, passing Ivica Zubac on passes. For a large part of the match, the rotations were perfect, the shots contested, the efforts multiplied. Another number: Minnesota intercepted 15 balls! In short, this is undoubtedly the franchise's benchmark performance, in this area, this season.
– The duo James Harden – Ivica Zubac extinguished. As a result of a closed double-turn defense, the Clippers' two offensive keys did not exist. The first, who went through the match like a lost soul, finished with only 5 points at 1/10 on the shoot, when the second was cut from the game. Not only because of Rudy Gobert's interceptions, but also because the entire defense prevented passes to him. The pivot thus only scored 4 points with 4 small shots attempted.
– The Clippers fall at home. This setback remains a small event because the Californians were still on 9 successes in a row at home, in the Intuit Dome, where the opponents are sometimes destabilized on free throws by the atmosphere. Their last defeat dates back to November 2, against the Thunder.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
