Minnesota Timberwolves: Key takeaways from Wolves’ blowout loss to Clippers

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense has its worst day

The Wolves entered the night ranked No. 11 in defensive rating, and their slightly above average defense has surprisingly kept them afloat as the offense has floundered. Saturday was a major exception.

Minnesota was completely unable to contain dribble penetration and had to collapse its defense, which opened up easy outside looks that got the Clippers going after a slow start from deep. Los Angeles’ perimeter creators repeatedly knifed into the paint and put themselves in position for open perimeter shots, as Paul George and Reggie Jackson combined for 44 points and eight assists and made 19 of their 33 field goal attempts.

https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/1459748069889564674?s=20

The Clippers shot 53.5 percent overall and 40 percent from three. They also pounded the Wolves for 66 points in the paint. Minnesota continues to struggle against teams that can execute in the halfcourt, surrendering over 120 points four days after doing the same against the Warriors.

“We just could not contain the ball. It went wherever it wanted to go, whether it was a pick-and-roll or isolation,” Finch said postgame. “It got by us, it got deep into the paint to the rim. It was layup after layup.”