Emotional Patrick Beverley leads celebration as Minnesota Timberwolves beat LA Clippers to advance to playoffs

MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards and Patrick Beverley stood on the Goal Heart scorer’s desk, screaming and celebrating in an ode to an iconic second in Minnesota Timberwolves franchise historical past when Kevin Garnett stood on the desk and celebrated within the 2004 playoffs.

Not lengthy after leaping off the desk, Beverley sat on the Timberwolves bench and commenced sobbing in an outpouring of emotion. This was deeply private for Beverley. Not solely did the veteran level guard really feel the ecstasy of beating his former staff, he rejoiced in serving to Minnesota clinch the seventh spot within the Western Convention playoffs with a 109-104 come-from-behind play-in win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday night time.

Minnesota will play the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in Sport 1 of their playoff sequence on Saturday. It’s the first playoff look for the Timberwolves since 2018.

“Man, I wished this one so unhealthy,” stated Beverley, who hugged his mom, Lisa, on the courtroom. “That is simply the icing on the cake, the cherry on high. Play-in, to have the ability to beat them … one other purpose scratched off. I informed you we had been going to the playoffs. Most of you all, y’all checked out me like I used to be loopy after I first stated that. I f—ing informed y’all.”

And he wasted no time in telling his former staff — which dealt him away in August — how he felt. The Clippers had despatched Beverley to Memphis, with the Grizzlies in flip buying and selling him to Minnesota, which gave him the contract extension he sought in February.

After forcing a late turnover, Beverley celebrated in entrance of the Clippers bench, letting out a primal scream earlier than pulling and pointing to his Minnesota jersey.

“Take they ass house,” Beverley stated of what he informed his previous teammates on the finish. “Lengthy flight to L.A. Take they ass house. It is deeper than that for me. I gave my blood and sweat and tears to that group. You guys know the story.

“Blood, sweat and tears, to only be written off like that, ‘He is injury-prone. He is previous.’ This, this, that, that. To have the ability to come right here and play them in a play-in and beat they ass, no different feeling, man. No different feeling.”

Beverley fulfilled a vow he made when he was launched to the Minnesota media in September that he would lead the Wolves to the playoffs. On Tuesday night time, he helped the franchise safe solely its second journey to the postseason since Garnett stood on the identical desk after main the Wolves to the Western Convention finals in 2004.

And Beverley did so towards his former staff. The purpose guard — who had seven factors and 11 rebounds on Tuesday — spent 4 seasons with the Clippers and helped the staff transition from the Chris Paul–Blake Griffin–DeAndre Jordan period to its current squad with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Beverley helped set up the Clippers’ present id of working laborious and their subsequent man up mentality.

In Minneapolis, Beverley’s scrappy hustle, hard-nosed protection and bravado have left a mark on a younger and impressionable roster.

“They received guys which can be slightly bit extra assured,” George stated after scoring 34 factors for the Clippers, who will now face the winner of the San Antonio Spurs–New Orleans Pelicans play-in recreation for the eighth seed. “His power and his persona, , rubbed off, they made an impression on that roster.

“I do know what it was coming into this recreation. I wasn’t going to permit Pat to do his antics and attempt to get me flustered. I knew it is all for present. It is for the gang. Will get the gang concerned. I find it irresistible. I find it irresistible. I miss it. He did it on our facet as a result of it is contagious. I feel when he is in that mode, it ignites the staff, ignites the sector. You want power guys like that.”

Minnesota overcame a number of challenges to beat the Clippers. LA led by 10 with 8:54 remaining within the recreation, and Karl-Anthony Towns, pissed off by being in foul hassle the whole recreation, fouled out with 7:34 left after posting simply 11 factors.

However Edwards scored 9 of his 30 factors after that 10-point deficit, and D’Angelo Russell hit a few huge 3-pointers within the closing 4 minutes earlier than ending with 29 factors to assist Minnesota prevail with a 21-5 run.

“I took what the sport gave me,” stated Edwards, who will play in his first playoff sequence. “And that’s what they gave me.

“They had been scared to protect me, and I took benefit of that.”

The Wolves celebrated on their house courtroom like they gained a playoff sequence. And the followers soaked it up. In any case, the franchise misplaced a median of 46 video games over the previous three seasons.

“I ain’t going to lie, that is been on my thoughts since I figured we had been taking part in them,” Edwards stated of standing on the desk like Garnett. “I have been going to sleep [and] saying I’ll hit the game-winning shot and I’ll go leap on the desk.”

Beverley and the Wolves will subsequent should face Ja Morant and Memphis. However they had been going to savor this playoff berth first.

“I informed you, Ant,” Beverley stated to Edwards. “They did not imagine me. We going to the playoffs, child. They checked out me like I used to be loopy. They stated, ‘Pat, you loopy!'”