The Minnesota Timberwolves came into this game on a 5 game losing streak after dropping a game to Milwaukee last night. Tonight they were facing a Detroit Pistons team with only 9 wins. So coming into this game everyone was expecting a Timberwolves win especially with Rudy Gobert back in the lineup. Well, people thought wrong as the Pistons came into this game with confidence and were hitting shots at a consistent rate. The Timberwolves were leading throughout this game as D’Angelo Russel and Anthony Edwards started this game off hot. They both were able to get anything they wanted inside or outside.

 

The Pistons had no answer for them in the first half of this game. In the second half, Russell & Edwards continued that but the Pistons made adjustments. Both Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell finished the game with a combined 55 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds. The Pistons also adjusted to playing Rudy Gobert as they put Hami Diallo on him in the paint so that they could have active hands on him at all times. The other guys on the Timberwolves that have performed well all season just didn’t have it going tonight but it happens. McDaniels, Reid, and Nowell all could have done better tonight but they have been clutch all season when needed.

 

The Pistons were very scrappy and they played with a lot of intensity on the defensive end. Hami Diallo might not have had the points to be the leading scorer tonight but his effort/energy was all over the place. Hami got it done on the defensive end and was able to create opportunities for his teammates. One of those teammates being Bojan Bogdanović who went bananas against the Timberwolves. It seemed as though every time he was going for a jumper he either got fouled or it went in. Tonight Bojan Bogdanović had 28 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds on the night. When he gets hot there is no stopping him even with some of the best Timberwolves defenders in his face. Marvin Bagley III was another player that was able to put in some big minutes tonight as he finished with 18 points tonight. This Pistons team has a lot of heart and made some crucial plays to get the lead and maintain the lead. Huge shoutout to coach Casey as he had his team fighting tonight.

 

The Timberwolves have to get things back on track as they have a tough homestand coming starting with Denver, Portland, and LA Clippers. If they’re going to be one of the best in the west they have to show up in these big games. It’s tough to still figure them out because they haven’t been whole as a unit for so very long but hopefully KAT will be on his way back in early January.

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