The Timberwolves Fall To The Bulls In Double Overtime (139-131)

The Timberwolves Fall To The Bulls In Double Overtime (139-131)

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by | Mar 18, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Timberwolves were in Chicago to match up against the Bulls. Both teams need a win badly for seeding in their conferences and with the Bulls starting to get things clicking with DeRozan/LaVine it was going to be a true test for the Timberwolves. The Bulls were going to have their hands full trying to stop Anthony Edwards as he’s scored over 30+ in the last 4 games coming into this game.

 

The Timberwolves came out clicking on all cylinders tonight in Chicago as the offense was flowing perfectly. Anthony Edwards was finding his stroke early in this game as he just finished hitting back to back 3 pointers. Then with about 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter, Anthony Edwards went down grabbing his ankle and yelling in pain. It was not a sight that Timberwolves wanted to see as Edwards couldn’t put any weight on the foot at all and had to leave the game. One thing that was made clear is that this team is going to fight even without Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns they still were scrappy in this game.

 

 

Jaden McDaniels stepped his game up on both ends as he was able to get into his offensive bag and was clamping down on the defensive end. This was a great sight to see for any Timberwolves fan because if McDaniels can continue to improve on the offensive end teams won’t think they can sag off on him anymore. Jaden showed his range with the 3-point shot tonight and he also was able to get to the rim with ease. On the night Jaden McDaniel’s had a career-high 25 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.

 

It was a great overall performance as the Bulls couldn’t slow him down with Beverley, LaVine, or Caruso. Once Anthony Edwards left for the locker room the other player that was matching McDaniels energy in the game was the beast Rudy Gobert. It didn’t matter who was in the paint as Rudy Gobert was dominating and playing with the force we want to see from him every night. Gobert was making the Bulls pay inside and let it be known that he was the best big man in Chicago tonight. The only thing that Rudy didn’t do was hit 2 crucial free throws that would give the Timberwolves a lead late but he was on fire. Rudy finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds on the night. A lot needs to be said about the leadership that Mike Conley showed on the court tonight as well because he was hitting big shot after big shot. It was good to see Mike find his groove and he was able to make great decisions against the Bulls tonight. Mike finished with 28 points and looked comfortable out there running the offense with Kyle Anderson alongside him. The Timberwolves had 6 players in double figures tonight but the Bulls just made some bigger plays down the stretch of both overtimes. It simply came down to the fact that Chicago has two players that can get to their spot anytime and create opportunity and Minnesota’s players that can match those that were hurt.

 

The Bulls had DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine it’s that simple. The Timberwolves were trying to guard them the best they could for 58 minutes tonight as they had to go to double overtime. Jaden McDaniels was playing amazing defense but sometimes you have to tip your hat to better offense and that’s what happened tonight. DeRozan was living at the free-throw line tonight as he got 17 of his 49 points from there. DeRozan was a tough guard and showed that he still has a lot in the tank. Deebo also added 14 rebounds on the night as well. He was putting on a mid-range showcase and it was too much for the Timberwolves to handle down the stretch because once a shooter sees the ball go through the net he builds that confidence up. Zach LaVine started off slow with his offense and when you looked up at the end of the game he still was able to finish with 39 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists on the night. Chicago was making tough shots and putting pressure on the Timberwolves’ defense all night long. Without Anthony Edwards, it was tough to adjust on the fly and the Bulls were able to make the adjustments needed on Rudy to come out with a win in double overtime. It speaks volumes about this Timberwolves team though to continue to fight without their two best players and still make it a game.

 

 

The Timberwolves had no information on Anthony Edward’s injury postgame but they will have to get ready to play tomorrow in a back-to-back. It would make sense to say that Anthony Edwards will be out tomorrow as he was seen in a walking boot but you can’t put anything past the All-Star he just wants to hoop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

 

Mar 18, 2023 No Comments
Celtics Steal The Road Win Against The Minnesota Timberwolves (104-102)

Celtics Steal The Road Win Against The Minnesota Timberwolves (104-102)

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by | Mar 16, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Timberwolves came into this game with the Celtics fresh off a big win in Atlanta and were playing a Celtics team pissed at their loss to the Rockets. Today the Timberwolves fans got some good news heading into the game as the team announced that Karl-Anthony Towns will be back in the coming weeks. The Celtics also got some good news with Robert Williams returning within the next few games. This was a great game as both teams could execute at a high level in this highly anticipated game.

 

The Celtics and Timberwolves came out swinging and this game started off with some great offense. Throughout the game, it started to get chippy early as Rudy Gobert got a little too aggressive in the paint toward both Derrick White & Jaylen Brown. Rudy Gobert was playing like the beast he is but the Celtics players weren’t phased or backing down from the big man. The game was neck and neck even with the chippiness so it made for some good offensive plays with aggression. Speaking of that aggression Jayson Tatum posterized Rudy Gobert on an And-1 which turned into a flagrant 1 foul. That was the turning point in the game as the Celtics got in Rudy’s face and it got their offense going. The Timberwolves were able to slow down Jayson Tatum as he finished with 22 points 14 of which came from the free-throw line. The Timberwolves were fouling Tatum and his getting to the line with ease kept the Celtics in this game. Jaylen Brown took over the game in the second half especially in the 4th as he scored 15 points in that quarter alone and finished with 35 points. Minnesota did a good job defending tonight but Brown made some tough shots that were contested.

 

 

Another reason why the Celtics were able to do so much on the offensive end is that Jaden McDaniels was in foul trouble the whole game. Since the All-Star break, McDaniels has made a huge difference in every game including tonight. With McDaniels in foul trouble, it allowed Brown and Tatum to roam a lot more than Coach Finch wanted them to. McDaniels has got better on the offensive end as well because tonight he was able to hit some big shots. Jaden finished the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. Anthony Edwards played one of his most complete games on both ends of the floor as the Celtics couldn’t do anything with him on the offensive end. The Celtics were doubling Edwards trying to make other players on the Timberwolves beat them and it worked. Anthony Edwards wasn’t able to close the game the way he wanted but he was able to finish with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. The Wolves only had 5 players in double figures tonight and to beat a team like the Celtics you need people to contribute from all over the stat sheet. The Wolves made this game interesting and were able to take Tatum out of the game but let Brown get too comfortable within the flow of the offense. This is a game they could of won but they will put it behind them as they look to bounce back against the Bulls on Friday in Chicago.

 

 

 

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

Mar 16, 2023 No Comments
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
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