153 points! Successful trade for the Clippers! All-Star guard perfectly complements Leonard.

The Clippers crushed the Timberwolves at home with a score of 153-128.

Scoring 153 points in one game is the second highest this season, only surpassed by the Nuggets' 157 points.

In this game, Leonard shot 15 out of 20 attempts, with a high 75% accuracy, delivering 45 points plus 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. His plus-minus was +41, creating the most efficient 45-point game in Clippers history.

After this game,the Clippers' winning percentage reached 50.8%, achieving a record of 33 wins and 32 losses, ranking eighth in the Western Conference. They now lead the ninth-place Warriors by one win, but still trail the sixth-place Timberwolves by six wins.

It appears that without Harden, the Clippers can still secure at least a playoff spot, avoiding a collapse that would have helped the reigning champion Thunder secure this year's top draft pick. In the 2019 trade for George, the Clippers sent an unprotected first-round pick in 2026 to the Thunder.

Regarding Garland, acquired in exchange for Harden, he has proven himself remarkably.In the five games he played for the Clippers, he contributed to victories in all, averaging 17.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1 steal per game over 25.4 minutes. His shooting percentages were 47.1%, 45.9% (17 out of 37), and 72.7% respectively.Garland scored a total of 89 points in five games, becoming the highest-scoring guard in Clippers history for the first five games.

Garland's performance is not surprising and could even improve. As a top guard who has been selected as an All-Star twice by age 26, though his playmaking may not match that of 36-year-old Harden, his youthful energy fits perfectly with the Clippers' current fast-paced offense, creating an unexpectedly positive chemistry.

During the Clippers vs. Timberwolves game, broadcasters displayed Garland's stats from his previous four games with the Clippers:

Record: 4-0;

Net efficiency (net points per 100 possessions): +13.0;

Offensive efficiency (points per 100 possessions): 121.9;

Field goal percentage: 50%;

Points scored inside: 60.0.

Overall, at this stage, Garland has become indispensable to the Clippers, likely making them forget about Harden, who remains in Cleveland.

This season has been dramatic for the Clippers, with many events, but they have remained resilient throughout, meaning they have no choice but to move forward.