Timberwolves Rout Clippers 127-101 Behind Ball and McDaniels

Timberwolves Rout Clippers 127-101 for First Win Without Anthony Edwards

LaMelo Ball dropped a season-high 24 points and Jaden McDaniels added 23 as the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled past the Los Angeles Clippers 127-101 on Friday night in NBA Cup group play, securing their first victory since star Anthony Edwards stepped away from the lineup.

The decisive victory at Target Center offered an immediate look at how Minnesota can maintain its offensive rhythm while Edwards recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery. Following a 127-125 overtime loss at Cleveland, a fresh medical examination indicated the guard needed the procedure to address a wear-and-tear injury that restricted him to a career-low 61 regular-season games during the 2025-26 campaign, as reported by the Associated Press.

Finding Form Without Their Star

The adjustment period was not entirely smooth. The Timberwolves looked visibly out of sync during a 119-114 loss to the Golden State Warriors before finding their footing against Los Angeles behind Ball and McDaniels. Ball caught fire from deep, sinking three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter alone to cap off a crushing 20-2 run that put the game out of reach.

McDaniels put together a masterclass in two-way efficiency, hitting 11 of his 15 field goal attempts while chipping in seven assists and six rebounds. Off the bench, Bones Hyland provided a critical spark with 19 points and eight assists. With the victory, Minnesota improved to 4-2 on the season, continuing a trend where all four of their wins have come by margins greater than 20 points.

Backup guard Jaylen Clark also made his presence felt on the defensive end, taking over some of the assignment against Darius Garland and forcing the Clippers star into five turnovers. Clark finished with five points, two steals, and a plus-23 rating in just 17 minutes of action.

Clippers Struggle Amid Mounting Injuries

For Los Angeles, the loss marks their fourth consecutive defeat, dropping their record to 1-4. The team continues to play without key offseason additions Brandon Ingram and Max Strus, both sidelined by foot injuries.

Garland led the Clippers with 24 points on 10-for-22 shooting, while Brook Lopez contributed 13 points and six rebounds off the bench. Rookie Keaton Wagler struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 12 points on 2-for-11 shooting while finishing with a minus-24 rating. Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura returned to the starting lineup after missing one game with a quadriceps injury, finishing with 12 points in 26 minutes.

The Timberwolves hit the road next to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, while the Clippers travel to take on the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.