The Minnesota Timberwolves Fall To The Brooklyn Nets In Overtime (124-123)

The Minnesota Timberwolves Fall To The Brooklyn Nets In Overtime (124-123)

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by | Mar 11, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a tough loss to the 76ers and Joel Embiid. Tonight they would be going up against a well rested Brooklyn Nets squad as they played their starter’s limited minutes the game before. Since the trade to Brooklyn Mikal Bridges has been playing lights out, the Timberwolves would need to slow him down to win. On the Timberwolves’ side, they’re still without Karl Anthony-Towns as he’s been getting in some light work but still has no timetable. The Timberwolves haven’t been at full strength most of the season and it’s starting to show they miss KAT in more ways than many.

This was one of those games in which you knew whoever out-scrapped the other team would come out on top. The Nets are a team made up of players that know their role and perfect it at a high level. The problem is that Mikal Bridges and Spencer Dinwiddie are playing outside that and it’s been trouble for opposing teams. The Nets came out swinging in this game as Mikal Bridges has been showing that he can get his shot and to his spots anytime he wants to. It didn’t matter who was guarding him tonight he made some tough contested shots that you have to live with if you’re Minnesota. Mikal Bridges was on one tonight and was able to get his defense to jump-start his offense as well. On the night Mikal finished with 34 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Since joining the Nets he has been on fire and he added another 30-point performance to his short resume with his new team. It was his counterpart Spencer Dinwiddie who was making some tough buckets on the night and was able to get the mismatch he wanted and made Minnesota pay. When Spencer plays with that type of swag and confidence it will be hard for any team to get him off his game. Spencer finished with 29 points, 3 rebounds, and 11 assists. Both Bridges & Dinwiddie have shown a lot of leadership/maturity in their games this year.

 

 

Another player that has taken that next leap is Nic Claxton he was in a battle in the paint with Rudy Gobert but he was able to hold his own in key moments. This Nets team is filled with players that have something to prove and tonight they did just that in Minnesota. It was a back-and-forth game until that 3rd where the Nets just couldn’t miss it seemed. The Nets got some big shots from Finney-Smith and Curry that helped as they were able to sneak this win away from the Timberwolves. The Nets made a bad defensive read at the end of the 4th quarter as the buzzer was sounding as they left Naz Reid open to tie the game. The good decision was the fact they made some defensive stops when needed in overtime to seal the deal.

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves started this game out as best as you could. Rudy Gobert was punking everyone in the paint and was not to be denied at all. Rudy was a man among boys in the paint and he was able to do whatever he wanted against the Nets bigs. Rudy was able to back people down and dunk it with ease. Rudy was special on the defensive end and made it tough on the Net’s offensive players all night when needed. Rudy Gobert missed some crucial free throws down the stretch but still had one of his better games with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists. When Rudy plays like this it’s tough to beat the Timberwolves and it seemed as though the Timberwolves made a lot of mistakes to beat themselves. Anthony Edwards came out aggressive in this one but cooled down in the second half if this Timberwolves team is going anywhere they need All-Star Ant at all times. Edwards finished with 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists but he wasn’t able to lock down Bridges like he’s done to many opposing team’s best players.

 

One thing about Edwards he’s going to bounce back and he has shown a lot of promise on the defensive end this season. Tonight was one of those rare occasions where Edwards just couldn’t control some of those tough shots that were going in. Look for Edwards to bounce back in a major way as the Timberwolves now have the Atlanta Hawks waiting on them in ATL.  That’s where Anthony Edwards is from so I expect a huge game in front of family and friends with a Lil Baby receiving Ant’s jersey. Mike Conley Jr and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been contributing to this team in a major way and tonight it showed as they both were able to see some shots go down. Overall the Timberwolves are heading in the wrong direction and need to just stick to playing their style of basketball. The NBA has 82 games for a reason so look for the Timberwolves to turn this mini-slump around and get ready for the playoff run.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Mar 11, 2023 No Comments
The 76ers End Minnesota’s Three Game Winning Streak (117-94)

The 76ers End Minnesota’s Three Game Winning Streak (117-94)

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by | Mar 7, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves came into this game against the Philadelphia 76ers on a 3 game-winning streak. This has been an actual test for the Timberwolves this season without Karl Anthony-Towns in the lineup and they’ve answered pretty well. Tonight was one of those nights where the Timberwolves missed KAT in the lineup as they were going up against one of the best players in the world Joel Embiid. The 76ers ruled out James Harden pregame and left it to be the Joel Embiid show as he would be facing Rudy Gobert in the paint.

 

 

The Timberwolves came out flat in this game as they were trying to play catch up the whole time it seemed like throughout the night. Joel Embiid was special tonight as he was able to exploit a lot of the mismatches and he was smart enough to counter any adjustments that the Timberwolves made. Joel Embiid played a great game and forced Coach Finch to make adjustments to the lineup as Embiid was trying to bring Rudy Gobert out on the perimeter. As Joel Embiid started getting his game going it was too late for the Timberwolves to slow him down. On the night Joel Embiiid finished with 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. It was clear as day who the best player was on the floor tonight as Embiid was hitting shot after shot with ease. When Joel Embiid is this hot from the field all you could do is respect it and that’s exactly what the Timberwolves did.

 

Without James Harden, in the lineup, the 76ers turned to Tyrese Maxey to make a huge impact to fill that void and he did just that. Tyrese Maxey finished the game with 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists on the night and was able to make the best of players on Minnesota guarding him. Maxey has a quick first step and he was able to use that to take advantage of the defense as they were focused on Joel Embiid. The 76ers played some great defense tonight and part of it was the Timberwolves missing shots but they made it tough on them all night. The 76ers were making a lot of their shots and made the Timberwolves pay as they shot 49% from the field for the night. Joel Embiid had a lot to do with that percentage as he was able to score inside and out but he was able to get to his spots with ease all night.

 

The bright side for the Timberwolves was that Anthony Edwards showed up again and made the best of the situation. The Timberwolves had an off-night shooting and the 3-point shot was the main thing not going down for them. Anthony Edwards was able to score on the inside and out against ant defender Philly put in his way. Edwards finished with 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist on the night in the loss. One thing about Edwards he wants to continue to get better and something like this will go a long way when it comes to building character. Th 76ers had a game plan and executed it to the fullest and the Timberwolves got away from what helped them on their road trip. Minnesota got out-hustled tonight and shots just weren’t going in for them. It’s not a good thing when Anthony Edwards is the only start in double figures.

 

The Timberwolves lost this one because of the greatness Joel Embiid displayed but they will look to bounce back on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. Look for the team to come out aggressive and try to build that confidence to continue getting those wins. The Timberwolves can be successful but they can’t have Anthony Edwards be the only starter with double figures in points at all. The NBA has turned into a face pace track meet and the Timberwolves will need to get back on track quickly with Mikal Bridges and them boys coming into town.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

 

Mar 7, 2023 No Comments
Phoenix Suns take down the Dallas Mavericks

Phoenix Suns take down the Dallas Mavericks

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by | Mar 5, 2023 | Featured, NBA


First quarter:

Kevin Durant looked calm and took efficient shots, the Phoenix Suns defense allowed the mavericks to comeback after gaining a nice lead. Luka Doncic struggled in the first quarter. The Suns defense was able to limit Doncic on 1-7 shooting. The Mavericks defense struggled to guard Durant but double teamed Devin Booker on almost every possession. Doncic seemed to appear injured and headed to the locker room to get checked.

End Of First: Suns Lead after 1 against the Mavericks (31-26)

Second Quarter:

The Mavericks defense had no answer for KD, but the Mavericks offense was able to spread the floor and shoot the 3 ball effectively to keep themselves in the game.

Luka came back in the second quarter but seemed to be limping and running slowly but was able to score and assist effectively. Tim Hardaway was the biggest story on the mavericks team in the second as he caught fire from three point range and had 15 points off the bench. The Mavericks Bench provided many points in the first and second.

The Suns defense couldn’t stop the mavericks from shooting the three ball and couldn’t keep their lead they kept allowing the mavericks to fight back and either tie the game or take the lead. The Mavericks offense has kept the Suns defense on their toes by spreading the floor and knocking down their shots. Booker started to heat up this quarter and so did Durant offensively.

End of Second: Dallas heads into the Half leading 62-59 against the Suns

Halftime Stats:

Score: 62-59 Dallas leads

Suns:

Devin Booker: 17 Pts, 3 assist, 2 Rebounds

Kevin Durant: 16 Pts, 1 assist, 4 Rebounds

Mavericks: 

Tim Hardaway Jr: 18 Pts, 1 assist, 1 Rebound

Luka Doncic: 10 Points, 3 Assists, 5 Rebounds

Third quarter:

The Mavericks maintained the lead until the final minute of the quarter where they played a bit sloppy and kept fouling and turning the ball over. But the Mavericks were still playing very well, shooting the three point ball and spreading the ball. The bench yet again has been a big factor in this game. Doncic did heat up and played a lot better than he did in the first half.

The Suns trailed most of the game but were able to stay in the game and take the lead in the final minute of the third. The Suns put up 36 points in the third and Booker yet again caught fire and led the team to a very nice quarter. A very aggressive and hard fought third quarter from the Suns. The defense played a little bit better but still struggled to defend the perimeter.

End of Third: Suns have the lead 96-95 over the Mavericks.

Fourth Quarter:

Doncic was on the bench to start the fourth but Irving lead the team to begin the quarter and the Mavericks were able to grab the lead again and play excellent defense on Durant and Booker. The Mavericks defense were able to limit other options from the Suns such as Ayton and Chris Paul, but Durant and Booker were still able to score here and there to stay in the game. Doncic sat most of the fourth until the 5:41 minute mark when he subbed in during crunch time.  The Mavericks defense towards the end started to fall apart and allow easy buckets for the Suns. The Mavericks could not stop the pick & roll play and it was easy buckets for the Suns. Doncic missed the game tying bucket to possibly force an overtime game.

The Suns kept turning the ball over in the fourth and committing fouls, Paul was visually frustrated this quarter when the Suns kept turning the ball over and weren’t able to hit their shots. The Suns defense has not been able to stop the three point shot and are late on almost every rotation. During the 6-minute mark the Suns were able to make it a close game and started passing the ball and scoring effectively. The Suns offensively were able to keep themselves in the game while Chris Paul finally started to ease into the game and play the Point Guard role well, he was able to spread the floor and make very crucial shots. Durant and Booker took over in crunch time and put the team on their back to put them in a winning position. Durant put the game on ice with a go ahead bucket and two free throws.

End Of Fourth: Suns Win 130-126 over the Mavericks

Final Score: 130-126

Final Summary: The Suns take down the Mavericks 130-126 in a close game. A very well fought game between the Suns and Mavericks which led to an amazing game, this game felt like a NBA playoff game 7 where all the Stars scored over 30+ points and in the final two minutes they were going back and forth exchanging points.

Leading Scorers On The Game: 

Suns: 

Devin Booker: 36 Points, 10 assists, 6 Rebounds

Kevin Durant: 37 Points, 3 Assists, 7 Rebounds

Chris Paul: 11 Points, 7 assists, 6 Rebounds

Mavericks:

Luka Doncic: 34 Points, 4 assists, 9 Rebounds

Kyrie Irving: 30 Points, 7 assists, 4 Rebounds

Tim Hardaway Jr: 21 points, 1 assist, 1 Rebound.

Game-Day Highlights

Mar 5, 2023 No Comments
Minnesota Timberwolves Sweep The Cali Trip After Defeating Sacramento (138-134)

Minnesota Timberwolves Sweep The Cali Trip After Defeating Sacramento (138-134)

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by | Mar 5, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a win last night to the LA Lakers. Tonight they took on the Sacramento Kings and it was a tough one until the finish. Both teams have been fighting and crawling for positioning in the Western Conference so we definitely were in for a great game.

 

This was one of the most complete games that we’ve seen from the new look Timberwolves since the trade for Mike Conley Jr. You can tell that Conley Jr is getting comfortable in the system and he’s been able to learn where his teammates want the ball and when he needs to put his head down and attack to score. Mike Conley’s leadership and basketball IQ were on full display tonight as he was able to make some big plays throughout the game to give the Timberwolves the win. On the night Mike Conley finished with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists but proved he can do it all when called upon. Conley has been able to get the ball in the spots that both Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards like with ease. Anthony Edwards has been nothing short of spectacular as of late and the best part about it is the fact his teammates have stepped up taking some of the scoring load off him in wins. Anthony Edwards at one point in the season looked like he would need 35 points for a win but nowadays he’s getting that offensive help that gives him a chance to have a lot more energy on the defensive end. Tonight Edwards was able to do it on both ends of the floor as he was able to slow down Fox for the majority of the game and still get his looks at the rim. Anthony Edwards had 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists tonight in Sacramento. Edwards is known for his all-around game and he showcased his playmaking skills tonight with 8 assists as he got McDaniels, Gobert, and Conley some great looks tonight.

 

 

Anthony Edwards has grown throughout the season and he’s unlocking that all-around game right before the Timberwolves need to make that playoff push. It seemed as if no one on the Kings was going to stop Edwards as he was on a mission from the opening tip. The Timberwolves played a complete game with 7 players in double-figures scoring. If the Timberwolves can get this production on a daily basis it will be tough for anyone to stop them. Jaden McDaniels had 19 points and made the Kings pay on his cuts and the defensive end all night. McDaniels has been a key defender for this team all year and he made it tough on Fox and Barnes tonight. As the games continue to go so does McDaniels confidence and this is the right time for it to be on display. Rudy Gobert had another strong night with back-to-back double-doubles as he finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Rudy has been on fire as of late and he’s been dominant in every phase from offense to defense this is exactly what the Timberwolves fans have been wanting to see and it’s happening. Rudy has been a beast and tonight he did a great job of slowing down Sabonis and limiting the points in the paint for the Kings.

 

Kyle Anderson almost had a triple-double tonight as he finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Anderson has been a great addition to the team and he’s been that constant playmaker that they can count on. The Kings didn’t know how to slow him down and when they did SlowMo made the basketball play to get his teammates the ball where they needed it. The Timberwolves bench showed up tonight too as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid combined for 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Kings made it close down the stretch but the Timberwolves were just making right play after right play. This type of win can lead to a lot of momentum heading into the rest of the March/April games.

 

The Timberwolves return home to play against the 76ers on Tuesday in a game that should be a must-watch for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Mar 5, 2023 No Comments
Rudy Gobert’s Double Double Propels Minnesota To Victory Over LA (110-102)

Rudy Gobert’s Double Double Propels Minnesota To Victory Over LA (110-102)

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by | Mar 4, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a great team win against the LA Clippers the other night. They played against the LA Lakers this time, but it must be something about that Cali atmosphere because the Timberwolves have played well there this season. The Lakers played this game without LeBron James who’s nursing a foot injury and the Timberwolves still don’t have Karl Anthony-Towns back from the calf strain.

 

This game was about who would be the best big man in the paint tonight it was that simple. It was Rudy Gobert vs Anthony Davis and both of these guys didn’t disappoint one bit. Rudy Gobert started the game off with some inside moves to establish himself and he was cleaning up the boards all night long. It didn’t matter who was in the paint tonight for the Lakers Gibert had that dog in him tonight. Rudy set the tone and he was able to let his defense help create the offense. Rudy was able to put up 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 assists tonight. The great thing about Rudy’s night was that he took the challenge in the pick-n-roll and on the perimeter when it came to guarding Anthony Davis. When Gobert cleans up the boards like he did tonight there’s not much that opposing teams can do because he takes away their second-chance points. When the Timberwolves limit their opponent’s opportunities it gives them more of an advantage with Gobert. So that was definitely a sight to see if you’re a Timberwolves fan as Rudy has been on a mission as of late and he’s been dominant in the paint for Minnesota. Anthony Davis was able to get his tonight as he finished with 38 points but you can tell the Timberwolves were okay with that as long as no one else was beating them. The Timberwolves were able to throw multiple bodies at Davis like Reid/McDaniels to throw him off his game when it came to just matching up with Rudy. If the Timberwolves can continue to defend at a high-level anything’s possible with this unit.

 

 

Anthony Edwards didn’t have that crazy stat line game but he would tell you himself he’s just happy they got the win. Edwards finished the game with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists on the night. You can tell tonight wasn’t his all-star-caliber night but it happens. The best part about this whole thing is that we got a chance to see the other teammates step up and have his back. Tonight was the night the Timberwolves fans got to see why Minnesota traded for Mike Conley Jr as he was able to do it all. Conley Jr was able to score tonight and get the ball in his teammate’s hands with ease. If Conley can provide this type of leadership heading into the playoffs this would be a scary team to run into in April. Conley Jr had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists but he made the right basketball play numerous times. It seemed as though Conley Jr was just making right play after another all night. Down the stretch, Conley Jr was able to hit some big shots and that really got the Timberwolves the lead mixed with Rudy.  Naz Reid and Taurean Prince were able to combine for 28 points off the bench to help seal the deal. The Timberwolves took advantage of some of the Lakers mistakes and made the most out of them. The Timberwolves will be facing the Kings who just beat the Clippers as the Kings will have a scorching hot Fox on their hands. Fox has scored 30 or more in 8 consecutive games so someone will need to take that challenge and make the best of the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Mar 4, 2023 No Comments
The Hornets Defeated Minnesota (121-113) Led By LaMelo’s 32 Point Performance

The Hornets Defeated Minnesota (121-113) Led By LaMelo’s 32 Point Performance

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by | Feb 25, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

Coming into this game the Timberwolves are still without Karl-Anthony Towns as they hope to get him back in the near future. This was the first game after the All-Star break and the Timberwolves needed to hit the ground running. The Timberwolves team moves the way Anthony Edwards moves right now and they need him big time down the stretch.

It was a tough game to watch if you’re a Timberwolves fan as the Hornets came out and did whatever they wanted. LaMelo Ball got too comfortable in the 1st half as he could drive, score, dish, and basically have his hands on the ball at all times. LaMelo showed up big time for the Hornets as the team moved to the beat of his drum. Anytime LaMelo had the ball in his hands he made a positive play and the Timberwolves were a step behind whatever he was doing. LaMelo finished the game with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists on the night. The Timberwolves weren’t making it tough on LaMelo in this game as he was doing as he pleased in that 1st half. It wasn’t until the 3rd quarter when Anthony Edwards took the challenge personally and was like I got LaMelo whenever he got the ball that they made a serious push. It was a little too late as the Timberwolves started clamping down on LaMelo but his teammates were already comfortable too. PJ Washington was one of those players that picked up the offensive scoring when the Timberwolves started to take LaMelo out of the game. PJ finished the game with 20 points, and 8 rebounds on the night. PJ was in the right place at all times it seemed as he was able to get some easy fast-break dunks after steals. The other player that looked like the All-Star version of himself was Gordon Hayward. Tonight Hayward made some tough shots and could keep their foot on the gas when Minnesota took LaMelo off the ball. Hayward finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists as he was able to do it all tonight. The Hornets were scrapping all night and it came down to a couple of big 3-pointers by LaMelo Ball to seal the deal for them as they were able to sneak out with a win.

The Timberwolves pretty much gave this game away because they are known to lock up on the defensive end and that creates their offense. Tonight that didn’t happen until the 2nd half and it was one of the reasons they were playing catch-up throughout the game. Anthony Edwards was special all night long but you can tell he needed someone to help him out with the scoring especially when he went to get rest. It seemed like every time Edwards went to the bench Ball was still in the game or was getting subbed back into the game. Edwards was able to get any shot he wanted tonight inside or outside it didn’t matter but his 29 points weren’t enough in this game. One thing that I loved is the fact he took the defensive challenge with LaMelo personally and it showed he wants to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Edwards wants to win at all costs and I think a game like this will go a long way for the rest of the season. Naz Reid was the second-leading scorer tonight and came off the bench blazing as he finished with 16 points. When Naz has his game going there are very few bigs in the league that can keep up with him it’s just all about consistency in the rotation. Rudy was able to get a big double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds but they needed a little bit more. This Timberwolves team has what it takes to make a big splash in the western conference especially when they get Karl Anthony Towns back. Once KAT comes back and once Mike Conley settles into his role in the offense things will be looking up for the Timberwolves as fans shouldn’t panic.

Up next the Timberwolves head to Golden State as they will be playing against a Klay Thompson that is scorching hot coming off an 11 3-pointer performance. The Timberwolves will need to lock in early so things don’t get out of hand and they come out with a victory.

Feb 25, 2023 No Comments