Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from blowout loss to LA Clippers

Karl-Anthony Towns quiet in Minnesota Timberwolves’ collapse

A team goes as its star does, and while Anthony Edwards may be the long-term future of the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns is currently the franchise’s best player.

The problem: The Timberwolves didn’t treat Towns like their best player, or even an important player, in the second half. Towns had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and five rebounds at halftime. Over the remainder of the game, Towns took three shots. He ended with a respectable line of 20-9 on 7-of-12 shooting.

There is absolutely zero reason for a player of Towns’ talent level to take three shots in the second half. It doesn’t matter that the Clippers continued to throw a bunch of bodies at him or that the Wolves turned the ball over repeatedly. With the game slipping away, the Wolves somehow fazed out their best offensive player.

The blame has to fall on Towns as well as the team around him. He needs to be more aggressive, his teammates need to find him and his coaches need to put him in positions to make plays. It’s been a trend this season for Towns to start strong and then fade as the game continues, so it’s something Finch and Co. need to figure out, fast.

The Wolves end their home-heavy stretch of games to open the season 3-5. This was supposed to be the Wolves’ chance to start strong and build momentum for the tougher portions of the season. Instead, they hit the road looking for answers.