Rookie Stars Shine as Clippers Beat Timberwolves in Summer League Finale

What Happened in the Game?

On Friday, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the LA Clippers played the Minnesota Timberwolves in their last NBA Summer League game. The Clippers won 128–120 after a super exciting overtime (extra playing time because the score was tied).

A rookie is a first-year player, kind of like a new kid on the team.

• Keaton Wagler (a rookie) scored the most points in the game: 26.
• Sean Pedulla did an amazing job in the extra time (overtime) to help his team win.

Important Point: The game was tied at the end of normal time, so they played overtime. The Clippers won the overtime part 13–5!

Clippers Player Highlights

Here are the Clippers players who did really well:

• Sean Pedulla: 24 points, 11 assists (helping teammates score), and 6 steals (taking the ball from the other team). He was the best at assists.
• Norchad Omier: 20 points and 15 rebounds (grabbing the ball after a missed shot).
• Nick Martinelli (picked in the second round of the draft): 18 points.
• Baba Miller (another rookie): 15 points and 6 assists.
• Keaton Wagler: 26 points, plus 4 rebounds and 1 block (stopping a shot).

Timberwolves Player Highlights

Even though they lost, these Timberwolves players played great:

• Jaylin Williams (came off the bench, meaning he started as a substitute): team-high 21 points, including 5 three-pointers (shots from far away).
• Zyon Pullin: 18 points and 8 assists.
• Rocco Zikarsky (a big player): 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Isaiah Evans (second-round draft pick): 14 points.
• Trey Kaufman-Renn (also drafted): 7 points.

How the Game Went Up and Down

The game kept changing who was winning — there were 13 lead changes (that’s a lot of switching!).

1. The Clippers went on a huge 20–0 run (scored 20 points without letting the other team score) across the 2nd and 3rd parts of the game.
2. This gave them a big lead of 26 points.
3. But Minnesota slowly came back.
4. With only 5 seconds left in normal time, Rocco Zikarsky made a layup (easy close shot) to tie the game and force overtime.

The Overtime Heroics

In the extra time:

• Sean Pedulla "took over" — that means he was the boss. He scored or helped make several important baskets.
• The Clippers outscored Minnesota 13–5 in overtime to win.

A Special Note on Keaton Wagler

• Keaton Wagler was the No. 5 pick in the draft (that means a team chose him very early because they think he’s great).
• He decided to play in this last summer game, which was a big talking point.
• He finished his Las Vegas games with a strong show: 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block.

How This Recap Was Made

ESPN uses smart computer helpers (Generative AI) to write quick summaries from game data. Real human editors check them before you read them. If something looks wrong, you can email support@espncustomercare.com for fixes.

Summary

The LA Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 128–120 in their final Summer League game in Las Vegas. Rookie Keaton Wagler led with 26 points, and Sean Pedulla was a star in overtime. The game had many lead changes, a 20–0 Clippers run, and a tying shot by Minnesota before the Clippers won the extra period.

FAQ

Q: What is the NBA Summer League?
A: It’s a series of practice games in the summer where new and young players show their skills before the real season.

Q: What does "overtime" mean?
A: If the score is tied when normal time ends, they play extra minutes called overtime to decide the winner.

Q: Who was the top scorer of the game?
A: Keaton Wagler of the Clippers, with 26 points.

Q: Why was Keaton Wagler’s decision to play important?
A: He was a top draft pick (No. 5) and chose to play the last game, ending his summer games with a great performance.