The luck of the Timberwolves.
Not a phrase you may have heard much of in recent years. But when it comes to being lucky and good, wolves have recently had a lot of both.
Which brings us to Saturday’s game with Milwaukee at the Target Center, as it was announced before the game that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was out with a sore throat on his right knee. Wolf coach Chris Finch has said his team needs to pivot after devoting a good 80% of their game plan to the Milwaukee star.
They did it.
Going 22-for-47 on three pointers – nine players hit at least one – and leading from the late first quarter, shooting better than 50%, the Wolves beat the Bucks 138-119. Minnesota (42-30) now has four straight wins and 10 of 11 wins.
“We can’t control who they play, who’s out, whatever,” Finch said. “That was a really focused and really great performance from us, for the most part. Played with good energy.”
Energy that sometimes cracked a little more. The game featured a first quarter shoving match between Serge Ibaka and Taurean Prince of Minnesota, which escalated as Patrick Beverley pushed Ibaka in the back and involved Milwaukee George Hill.
Both Beverley and Hill were ousted.
There was a time, against a good team, where the temperature blew up, the Wolves lost the way. On Saturday, it just made them better, more focused.
“We’ve come a long way,” said Naz Reid. “I mean, I think it burned us to be honest. At home, with our fans (a 17,136 sold out). It’s crazy. I think we’ve come a long way.”
Six after a quarter up, that lead has grown to 12 in the half and to 24 after a 38-point third quarter.
The victory pushed the wolves into an interesting week.
With Dallas losing Saturday, the table is tightening. The Wolves are in seventh place in the Western Conference, half a game behind no. Wednesday game with Phoenix.
“Every time we step on the court, we should win,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Simple as that. There’s no excuse. We do not think we should lose anyone. We think we can beat everyone. … If we do what we are supposed to do, we feel it is a guaranteed win.”
Towns and Anthony Edwards both had 25 points. She combined to make nine of 16 threes. Towns played with a sore right arm injury early in San Antonio last week, an injury that stubbornly refused to get better. Listed as questionable in the injury report, Towns was a last-second addition to the starting lineup.
Edwards’ insult came with a good defense against Khris Middleton. Angelo Russell had 16 points and nine assists. Reid (14), Malik Beasley (14) and Prince (10) all shot …
Add Comment