Anthony Edwards will return to the site of his All-Star Game MVP performance when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif.
The Timberwolves entered the All-Star break on a 7-3 run and are 2-1 since returning. Edwards has done his part to start the season’s second half with an average of 34 points over the three games. He scored 40 points immediately after the break in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Edwards guided Team Stars to the All-Star Game title by scoring 32 points during the mini three-squad tournament, with each of his team’s three games the equivalent of a 12-minute NBA quarter.
A 34-point effort Tuesday helped Edwards guide Minnesota to a 124-121 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the opener of a three-game road trip. Jaden McDaniels scored 29 points, one off his season high, while going 5 of 6 from 3-point range.
McDaniels is scoring a career-best 15.2 points per game this season. Plus, he has not just surpassed 40% shooting from 3-point range for the first time, he has soared beyond it at 45.2%.
“Nothing happens without the work,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. “At the end of the day, and at the heart of it all, the player who puts the work in gets better. It’s never been any different. He is an incredible worker. He plays every day, he practices every day … but he also has the confidence that goes along with all of that work.”
Since joining Minnesota at the trade deadline from the Chicago Bulls, guard Ayo Dosunmu has averaged 11.3 points with 2.8 assists in six games.
The Clippers had three days off after a 111-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points in the defeat, while deadline addition Bennedict Mathurin added 21. They were just 5 of 23 (21.7%) from 3-point range as a team.
Los Angeles is trying to find its way after significant deadline changes with starters James Harden and Ivica Zubac dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers, respectively.
Mathurin has made his mark since arriving from the Pacers, with 22 points and 6.2 rebounds in his five games for his new team. But Darius Garland (toe) still has not made his Clippers debut since arriving from the Cavaliers.
“I think that people are still adjusting to a lot of changes, especially me,” Mathurin said. “Players on the team have bigger roles and are in different situations.”
Mathurin referenced the three days without a game as a chance to refine a plan for the new-look roster.
“Pretty much to practice and go over defensive schemes and offensive, and see when Kawhi is doubled, pretty much what (defenses) do out there,” Mathurin said. “Not just stand, but set screens, cut.”
While the Timberwolves were in fifth place in the Western Conference heading into Wednesday’s play, the Clippers continued to hold a play-in spot at 10th in the West standings.
In the most recent matchup between the teams, Leonard scored 41 points as Los Angeles earned a 115-96 victory at Minnesota on Feb. 8. The win came just days after the Clippers traded Harden and Zubac and one game before Mathurin made his team debut.
