Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Edwards
Kawhi Leonard looked untouchable Wednesday night, and Anthony Edwards did not hesitate to say what many around the league already believe after watching it unfold.
Leonard poured in 45 points as the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past the Minnesota Timberwolves 153-128 at Intuit Dome, pushing Los Angeles above .500 and extending its recent surge, ESPN reports. The Clippers improved to 33-32, won for the third straight time, and collected their sixth victory in seven games after a difficult opening stretch to the season.
For Minnesota, the night quickly became another troubling defensive collapse. After struggling against the Lakers one night earlier, the Timberwolves again failed to slow anyone down, this time against a Clippers team that kept finding open space and easy rhythm.
Edwards still delivered 36 points, but Leonard controlled the entire tone of the game almost from the opening tip.
By the end of the night, Edwards summed up Leonard’s impact with a quote that immediately stood out.
“In all honesty, Kawhi may be one of the best players to ever play the game when he’s healthy. I think a lot of his peers feel the same way about him. When he’s 100%, ain’t no stopping Kawhi.”
Adding in ‘when he’s healthy’ feels like a caveat that isn’t needed. That statement is true for anyone, despite Leonard having a history of missing a ton of games due to injury. Leonard has already stamped himself as an all-time great, potentially even top ten or 15 ever, regardless of his availability.
Kawhi Leonard Set the Tone Early Against Minnesota
Leonard wasted no time putting pressure on Minnesota’s defense. He scored 18 points in the opening quarter, helping Los Angeles build a 38-27 lead before the Timberwolves could settle in.
He reached halftime with 28 points, then entered the fourth quarter sitting on 39 while the Clippers led 109-98. Every stretch where Minnesota tried to tighten the margin ended with Leonard answering.
He finished 15 for 20 from the field, knocked down six of nine from deep, and added nine free throws. Los Angeles also buried 19 three-pointers as a team, turning efficient offense into a full breakdown for Minnesota’s defense.
The Clippers kept extending the lead after Leonard sat briefly, and once the fourth quarter opened, the game slipped completely away from the Timberwolves.
Clippers Turn a Tight Game Into a Rout
Los Angeles opened the fourth with another quick burst, stretching the margin to 120-100 before Minnesota could respond. A 17-6 run followed, and coach Chris Finch turned to the bench long before the final horn.
Naz Reid added 18 points for Minnesota, but the Timberwolves dropped their third straight game and slid to sixth in the Western Conference, only a half-game behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
Leonard later reflected on what has fueled one of his strongest scoring stretches.
“The man above. Me just obviously able to play games. Had a good offseason. Just able to work. Just praising him and work ethic and believing. Just trying to get better in the game… Working on my shot, handle, or passing. Just being aggressive and making mistakes.”
For a Clippers team that opened 6-21, this recent stretch looks dramatically different, and when Leonard performs at this level, Edwards made it clear that players around the league already understand exactly what that means.