The Los Angeles Clippers took home a huge win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Intuit Dome on Wednesday night. In the 153-128 win, Sean Pedulla scored his first NBA points, and Bennedict Mathurin made sure the rookie got the game ball after a small scuffle highlighted the end of the contest. 

"My rookie scored his first points in the NBA," Mathurin said in the locker room after the game. "I can't take that for granted. It only happens once, so just trying to be a good teammate, trying to get the game ball." 

That should tell you everything about who Bennedict is as a teammate. In the heat of the moment while tensions were rising, Mathurin was thinking of someone other than himself. 

Pedulla is trying to find his footing in the league, and having a veteran like Mathurin in his corner is indicative of the kind of locker room culture that winning organizations are built on.

The individual moment was special, but Mathurin was quick to point out that Wednesday night's blowout win was a collective effort from everyone on the roster.

"I think everybody did our job," Mathurin said. "We played collectively great as a team, and the most important thing was our defense. We started the game the right way, and that set the pace for us."

The Clippers totally dominated this game from the opening tip. Leading nearly wire-to-wire speaks to a defensive intensity and offensive efficiency that's only growing more palpable as we get closer to the end of the regular season. 

Starting things off hot has been something we've seen this team consistently do, and that continues to pay dividends. Wins like this one just make it more obvious to the rest of the league how dangerous LA is right now. 

Of course, any conversation about this Clippers win has to center on Kawhi Leonard, who put together a ridiculously efficient 45-point night. It was just the latest in a series of otherworldly shooting nights he's been enjoying. 

"It's hard not to be a fan of that," Mathurin said. "He's unbelievable. But we definitely need him to keep being himself. Obviously, he's one of the best playing in the NBA right now. We need him to keep playing at his best."

When your teammate drops 45 and you still make sure to get the game ball for the rookie who scored his first two, that clearly says something about the character in this locker room. This team is peaking at the right time, and the fanbase could not be more excited for results like this one from Wednesday. 

Just three months ago, absolutely no one could have envisioned this insane turnaround for the Clippers this season. They're the first team in NBA history to go from 15 games below .500 to a winning record, and the fanbase is hoping this is just the beginning of something even more special.