In the Minnesota Timberwolves' first game since the trade deadline where they turned over nearly half of their roster, they put on a show against a championship-contending team in the LA Clippers at home.
They snapped a 13-game losing streak, winning for the first time since January 9th, knocking down a franchise-record 26 3-pointers.
Here are the biggest takeaways from this stunning upset:
New guys show instant impact
Although D'Angelo Russell didn't play with a right quad contusion, the three other new guys had a great debut for the Timberwolves. Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez, and James Johnson all played their roles and put up stellar stat lines in their time on the floor.
Beasley finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes with seven of his eight made field goals coming from beyond the arc. In a 27-point win, he recorded a team-best plus/minus of +28.
HOW 'BOUT THAT?!?!
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 9, 2020
Malik - 23 PTS / 4 AST / 10 REB
JMac - 24 PTS / 11 AST / 4 REB
KAT - 22 PTS / 9 AST / 13 REB pic.twitter.com/YkIhM4pEjl
Hernangomez recorded 14 points (4-6 FG, 3-3 3FG) and three assists in 26 minutes while James Johnson did a little bit of everything with 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3FG), five assists, three rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes.
Kawhi, PG combine for 50 but Clippers defence struggles
Paul George knocked down the first shot attempt for the team to give them 2-0 lead but that's the only lead the Clippers had all game. George and Kawhi Leonard combined for 50 points but had a rough shooting game, going 16-of-37 from the field and 4-of-15 from beyond the arc.
The Clippers defence struggled even more in this game.
The @Timberwolves set the nets on 🔥 tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2020
✅ 81 first-half points, the most in a half in team history.
✅ 142 total points, the third highest in a game in team history.
✅ 26 3PM, the most in a game in team history and tied for the second most in a game in NBA history.
The 142 points were the most the Clippers allowed this season.
Big win for Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns finished this game with 22 points (9-13 FG, 3-5 3FG), 13 rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns has made at least one 3-pointer in each of his last 34 games, the longest such streak in @Timberwolves history:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2020
34 - Towns (active)
33 - Corey Brewer (1/8/2010-3/17/2010)
30 - Towns (10/17/2018-12/17/2018)
29 - Kevin Love (2/10/2014-4/16/2014) pic.twitter.com/YoQXg7MKzt
More importantly, this was Towns' first win since Nov. 27, a personal 17-game losing streak.
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