Timberwolves Vs Clippers: Edwards’ Outburst, Leonard Held to Zero and a 94-88 Minnesota Win
Anthony Edwards erupted after a late dagger and confronted coach Chris Finch as the Minnesota Timberwolves closed out a 94-88 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 26, 2026. The exchange mattered because it followed a gritty, old-school contest in which Kawhi Leonard was held scoreless and Minnesota’s defense repeatedly created tense moments.
Why Anthony Edwards Yelled at Coach Chris Finch in Timberwolves Vs Clippers
Edwards’ post-possession confrontation with Finch came immediately after a late scoring play described in coverage as a "dagger. " The headline framing—that Edwards yelled at coach Chris Finch after a late dagger—establishes the central narrative: an emotional star reacting to a defining moment. What makes this notable is that the flare-up occurred after Minnesota had already secured the 94-88 final margin, underscoring how charged the contest felt despite the final score.
Anthony Edwards’ Performance and In-Game Moments
Edwards delivered one of the primary offensive sparks for Minnesota and “came out putting on a show” for the large Los Angeles crowd, energizing early runs that included Donte DiVincenzo hitting a pair of three-pointers and Jaden McDaniels throwing down a dunk. Even so, Minnesota’s offense repeatedly squandered chances: poor spacing and cold perimeter shooting limited the team’s ability to build a comfortable lead, and only two players were in double-digits in the first half—Edwards and DiVincenzo.
Kawhi Leonard, John Collins and Clippers Availability
The Clippers arrived after three days off but were hampered by availability issues that reshaped the matchup. A few weeks earlier, Los Angeles had beaten Minnesota by 19 at Target Center as Kawhi Leonard poured in 41 points; in this meeting Leonard logged a zero in the box score, playing minutes but finishing scoreless while nursing a sore ankle despite 72-plus hours of rest. Los Angeles was also missing John Collins with a concussion; Collins had been the team’s second-leading scorer in the prior matchup.
First-Quarter Numbers and Minnesota Defense
Minnesota shot an eye-popping 61. 1% in the opening quarter, yet the Wolves yielded 23 of 27 first-quarter Clippers points at the basket or the free-throw line. Los Angeles attempted only one three-pointer in that opening stanza and finished the first half hitting a single three out of 12 attempts, but still trailed by just six at intermission. The disconnect—efficient paint scoring for the Clippers despite miserable long-range numbers—helped keep the game close.
Fracas, Fouls and Free-Throw Battle
A physical moment between Jaden McDaniels and Kris Dunn resulted in a flagrant foul for McDaniels after he discarded Dunn, a call the recap suggested should have been issued earlier in the game. Asked after the game about how a team of emotional players can play with force without losing their cool, coach Chris Finch offered a memorable, terse response that observers called a "pretty awesome bar. " Minnesota later struggled with one-or-no-pass possessions; even veteran Mike Conley was pulled into the rough night when he airballed a three. The Wolves’ porous defense set the stage for losing the third-quarter free-throw battle by 11, a deficit that compounded Minnesota’s issues with offensive execution.
Game Context, Recent Form and Coverage Note
The result followed a narrow, morale-sapping win for Minnesota over an injury-ravaged Portland team two days earlier, leaving questions about energy and consistency. Los Angeles’ prior blowout win at Target Center and Leonard’s 41-point outburst in that game added contrast to the February 26 outcome. Separately, a site notice displayed on usatoday. com advised readers that their browser was not supported and suggested downloading a modern browser for the best experience, indicating at least one outlet’s coverage carried a technical-access message alongside game coverage.
The final sequence of the game and certain specifics of the late exchange remain unclear in the provided context.
