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The Timberwolves trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter and trotted out their usual reserve lineup of Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo.
And away they went.
The second unit played a stretch of beautiful basketball that got Minnesota back on track, sparking a 17-1 run that ultimately was the difference in the Timberwolves’ 118-111 home victory.
Minnesota has now won seven straight games.
This one may have come the hardest.
Two days after a nationally-televised dismantling of Denver that returned the Wolves to the A topic on basketball shows across the country, Minnesota struggled mightily with a Magic team that’s been, well, struggling.
But Minnesota struggled to get stops in the first half, which allowed Orlando to stay in the game even as the Wolves’ offense rolled. Minnesota’s offense stalled in the third quarter while Orlando continued to score, and a deficit resulted.
But the second unit that has been so good for large stretches of the season corrected the team’s course to put Minnesota (39-29) back in front.
To Orlando’s credit, it took the punch and responded back to re-tie the game. Then it was Anthony Edwards’ time.
Edwards was one of the chief instigators of the third quarter struggles, but he was brilliant in the closing minutes.
First, Edwards hit an open triple. On the next trip down, he scored against a walled-up defender at the rim to put Minnesota back up five.
Edwards took a bit of a heat check on the ensuing possession, pulling up from deep in transition for a triple try that bounced off the iron. But Julius Randle, who powered Minnesota’s first half offensive explosion, came sprinting in for the putback slam to send Orlando to a timeout and Target Center to its feet.
Edwards finished with 28 points, while Randle had 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds, and Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels continued to stuff the stat sheet to the tune of 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Paolo Banchero had 43 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic (31-37), who were playing their second game in as many nights.
Continue reading...
And away they went.
The second unit played a stretch of beautiful basketball that got Minnesota back on track, sparking a 17-1 run that ultimately was the difference in the Timberwolves’ 118-111 home victory.
Minnesota has now won seven straight games.
This one may have come the hardest.
Two days after a nationally-televised dismantling of Denver that returned the Wolves to the A topic on basketball shows across the country, Minnesota struggled mightily with a Magic team that’s been, well, struggling.
But Minnesota struggled to get stops in the first half, which allowed Orlando to stay in the game even as the Wolves’ offense rolled. Minnesota’s offense stalled in the third quarter while Orlando continued to score, and a deficit resulted.
But the second unit that has been so good for large stretches of the season corrected the team’s course to put Minnesota (39-29) back in front.
To Orlando’s credit, it took the punch and responded back to re-tie the game. Then it was Anthony Edwards’ time.
Edwards was one of the chief instigators of the third quarter struggles, but he was brilliant in the closing minutes.
First, Edwards hit an open triple. On the next trip down, he scored against a walled-up defender at the rim to put Minnesota back up five.
Edwards took a bit of a heat check on the ensuing possession, pulling up from deep in transition for a triple try that bounced off the iron. But Julius Randle, who powered Minnesota’s first half offensive explosion, came sprinting in for the putback slam to send Orlando to a timeout and Target Center to its feet.
Edwards finished with 28 points, while Randle had 22 points, seven assists and five rebounds, and Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels continued to stuff the stat sheet to the tune of 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Paolo Banchero had 43 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic (31-37), who were playing their second game in as many nights.
Continue reading...
