'New Look' Timberwolves Beat Clippers 142-115
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jordan McLaughlin scored a career-high 24 points, Malik Beasley added 23 in his Minnesota debut and the new-look Timberwolves snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 142-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns just missed a triple-double with 22 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists for the Timberwolves, who won for the first time since Jan. 9. McLaughlin added a career-high 11 assists as Minnesota scored its highest point total of the season thanks to a franchise-record 26 3-pointers.
Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and Paul George had 21 for the Clippers, who had a three-game win streak snapped.
The Timberwolves turned over more than half their roster before Thursday's trade deadline. Three separate trades Wednesday and Thursday sent out seven players and brought in eight.
The most high-profile addition, point guard D'Angelo Russell, did not play. Russell, who was acquired in a trade with Golden State on Thursday, sat out with a right quad contusion.
Minnesota still had plenty of shooting. Ten Timberwolves players hit 3s, setting a franchise record. Beasley, who arrived in a four-team trade Wednesday, made a career-high seven 3s.
The Timberwolves shot 15 for 25 from 3-point range in the first half and took an 81-59 lead into halftime. The 81 points were a franchise record for points in a half and the most allowed by the Clippers in a half this season.
Beasley was 6 for 9 on 3s and scored 20 points in the first half.
Minnesota led by as many as 26 points in the second half. Los Angeles didn't get closer than 17.
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