The tension between Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kris Dunn of the Los Angeles Clippers ignited during their recent matchup at Intuit Dome on February 26, 2026, a game the Timberwolves ultimately won 94-88 despite the short-handed Clippers’ efforts.

The spark came in the third quarter when Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin drove toward the basket. McDaniels, known for his elite defensive instincts and physicality, stepped in aggressively to contest the play. Officials initially called a standard foul, but the contact – deemed excessive and unnecessary upon review – was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 foul on McDaniels.

Dunn, ever the fiery competitor and a former Timberwolf himself, took immediate offense. He rushed over and shoved McDaniels in the back, escalating the moment into a brief but heated confrontation. McDaniels held his ground firmly, nearly tossing Dunn aside in the process, while teammates (including Donte DiVincenzo stepping in quickly) and officials intervened to prevent it from boiling over further.

Referees hit Dunn with a technical foul for his push and involvement, while the flagrant on McDaniels stood after review. No ejections resulted from this specific scuffle, though Dunn has drawn headlines for other altercations this season (including an ejection earlier in February against the Timberwolves for contact with Julius Randle’s face).

That wasn’t the first time tonight Jaden McDaniels had done something the Clippers considered excessive. Kris Dunn had reached his limit and made his frustration known. Although the Clippers star avoided a severe penalty, he was the one who escalated the confrontation during this play. When Dunn placed his hands on McDaniels, the Wolves star shoved him away.

Kris Dunn avoided bigger punishment

10 fouls in the first quarter, 5 each for the teams, and then a total of 6 in the second, only showcased that the two teams weren’t ready to give an inch. In fact, earlier this month, when the Wolves and Clippers faced off, Kris Dunn was ejected.

It was in the fourth quarter, with five minutes left, that the Clippers were already sailing away from home and leading by 22. Under the basket, Julius Randle was waiting to grab an offensive rebound, but Dunn shoved him from behind. With the ball out of play, Randle employed a little time-wasting tactic to slow the restart.

Kris Dunn took exception and first tried to choke the Wolves star, and would later put his hand in Randle’s face. The officials quickly ejected Dunn and gave Randle just a tech. Earlier this season, the Clippers star was also ejected for his foul against the Lakers back in November.

It was Dunn who barged into Luka Doncic, knocking him to the floor before spiking the ball toward him. The crowd inside Crypto.com Arena erupted, and Jaxson Hayes approached to stand up for his teammate.

But Dunn threw a punch. Both Dunn and Hayes were given technical fouls; Dunn also received one for shoving Doncic and was thus removed from the game.