Timberwolves Vs Clippers: Edwards’ Late Dagger, Yelled Exchange with Coach Finch Seal 94-88 Win
In a tight Timberwolves Vs Clippers matchup on Feb. 26, 2026, Minnesota edged Los Angeles 94-88, and the night ended with Anthony Edwards yelling at coach Chris Finch after a late dagger. The result matters because Minnesota’s offensive miscues and defensive lapses kept the game close despite significant Clippers injuries and a rare scoreless night for Kawhi Leonard.
Final Score, Date and Key Figures
The Timberwolves beat the Clippers 94-88 on Feb. 26, 2026. The margin was six points; Minnesota closed the game with the decisive play that prompted a postgame confrontation between Anthony Edwards and coach Chris Finch. The meeting a few weeks earlier at Target Center saw the Clippers win by 19, a game in which Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points — a stark contrast to Leonard’s zero-point night this time around.
Kawhi Leonard’s Ankle and John Collins’ Absence
Kawhi Leonard rolled a donut in the box score, finishing the game with zero points despite logging minutes; he was described as nursing a sore ankle after more than 72 hours of rest. John Collins did not play because of a concussion; Collins had been the Clippers’ second-leading scorer in the previous meeting. Those availability issues left Los Angeles with limited perimeter and interior firepower, raising questions about load management and the broader league conversation tied to Adam Silver’s office.
Opening Quarter: Wolves’ Hot Shooting, Defensive Problems
Minnesota shot 61. 1% in the opening quarter, yet its defense surrendered a heavy share of points at the rim. The Clippers scored 23 of their first-quarter 27 points at the basket or the free throw line, an early indicator that the Wolves were struggling to protect the paint. The Wolves’ offense began well with Donte DiVincenzo hitting two triples, a Jaden McDaniels dunk and Edwards putting on an early show, but the strong field-goal percentage did not translate into a comfortable lead.
Offensive Execution, Spacing and First-Half Production
By halftime the Clippers had attempted just 12 three-pointers and made only one, yet they still trailed by six. Minnesota’s poor offensive execution — described in-game as spacing issues and cold perimeter shooting — capped the Wolves’ upside. Only two players scored in double digits in the first half: Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. What makes this notable is how a quarter of efficient shooting still failed to convert into separation when possessions became one- or no-pass plays in the second half.
Physicality, Free Throws and the McDaniels–Dunn Fracas
Physical play defined several swings. A scuffle between Jaden McDaniels and Kris Dunn resulted in a flagrant foul for McDaniels after he discarded Dunn, a moment that did not spark the Minnesota resurgence some expected. The Wolves lost the free-throw battle by 11 in the third quarter, and later saw Mike Conley come off the bench and immediately miss a three-pointer badly. The Clippers managed to inch ahead by as many as six points in the second half, a lead that at times felt larger because of Minnesota’s turnovers and poor spacing.
Late Dagger, Edwards’ Yell and Finch’s Remarks
The closing sequence produced Minnesota’s late dagger and a tense exchange when Anthony Edwards yelled at coach Chris Finch after the play. Finch was asked about balancing physicality and discipline in a roster of emotional players and offered a pointed response after the game. The confrontation capped a contest in which Minnesota’s defensive lapses and offensive inconsistencies nearly turned an opportunity-laden night into a narrow escape.
With the win, the Timberwolves ended a game shaped by injuries, an unusual scoreless performance from a star and a handful of volatile moments. The broader implication is that Minnesota can win tight, messy contests when their go-to scorer produces late, but sustaining that across stretches will require cleaner execution and more consistent defense.
