The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to hold on to the top spot of the Western Conference. They need to maintain the position to gain home-court advantage come playoff time. After all, they need all the help as they might be going up against some of the very best superstars in the league come April.
This goal is engrained in the minds of the superstars in the Minnesota locker room. So when they started slipping during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Rudy Gobert called his teammates out during the half-time break. Journalist Law Murray asked Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards after the game who was cursing in the locker room. Edwards replied that it was Gobert who was hailing curse words to everyone during halftime.
The Los Angeles Clippers are the hottest team since December last year. Adjustments to their starting lineup brought out the best in them. The Timberwolves know that the Clippers pose a considerable threat to their top-seed status. If the Timberwolves lost to the Clippers, it would make things harder at the end of the regular season if they both are tied for the same record.
Anthony Edwards said someone on the Timberwolves cursed out the team at halftime, which inspired the big 3rd quarter vs. Clippers:@LawMurrayTheNU: “Who was the one cussing?”
Ant: “Rudy.”
“English or French?”
“English. We don’t know French.” pic.twitter.com/wuGIPZ5B5j
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 13, 2024
Head-to-head records make a lot of difference in determining the final playoff spots. The Clippers have the momentum to snatch the top seed. That is why Rudy Gobert had to call out his teammates to perform better.
Rudy Gobert fired up the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2nd half
The Los Angeles Clippers slowly and steadily ended the first half with a lead. The Timberwolves could not help but wonder how to beat the superstar-laden squad. Gobert cursing out his teammates brought back that fire. From the second half onwards, the Timberwolves made adjustments to their game that swung the results in their favor.
Rudy Gobert galvanized the Minnesota Timberwolves to lead a 2nd half push to beat the Clippers (image via Minnesota Timberwolves/X)A 3rd quarter rally of 40-19 pulled the Timberwolves ahead of the Clippers. They played a lot faster and were smarter on defense. They ended up winning the game 121-100. This win helps them to 2-0 against the Clippers this season. They have two more games left with them. This win helps keep them ahead for the time being.
Had Rudy Gobert not fired up his teammates, the Clippers would have been in pole position to get the top seed. Anthony Edwards and the company needed those curses.
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