The Minnesota Timberwolves have overcome some major obstacles in recent games.
The Mavericks on Christmas Day
On Christmas Day in Dallas against the Mavericks, the Timberwolves built a lead as large as 28 points in the second half, yet the game came down to the wire.
Let’s rewind a bit.
Luka Gets Hurt
With about two and a half minutes left in the second quarter, Luka Dončić suffered a left ankle strain. He hobbled off the court and did not return. He has since been ruled out for at least a month.
The Timberwolves had a 13-point when Dončić exited but elevated upon his exit. They finished the first half with a comfortable 17-point lead and continued to extend their advantage in the third quarter. The Timberwolves pushed their lead as high as 28 early in the fourth.
The Timberwolves Got Comfortable
As they often do with a lead, the Timberwolves got comfortable.
This led to a loss of focus, a dip in effort, and a deviation from what had been working. The ball movement stagnated, and Edwards and Randle started running isolation plays that resulted in tougher shots. Defensively, the Timberwolves became sloppy, failing to rotate or secure key rebounds. This drop in intensity allowed the now Kyrie Irving-led Mavs, who finished with 39 points, to go on a big run.
That surge brought the game too close for comfort, given the sizable lead the Timberwolves had built.
Here We Go Again, NOT
Many Timberwolves fans surely thought, here we go again— worried that their team would squander a large lead against a conference rival on the NBA’s most important regular-season day.
But the Timberwolves didn’t succumb to the pressure. As the game tightened in the final minutes, the Timberwolves locked in. Executing their offense with precision and ramping up their defensive intensity. This shift culminated in a game-clinching driving layup by Anthony Edwards.
The Timberwolves’ resilience is demonstrated by their ability to withstand Irving’s barrage and the Mavericks’ fourth-quarter comeback.
Their game against the Rockets on Friday, December 27th, two days later, in Houston, further showcased that resiliency.
The Rockets Game
The game against the Rockets was a back-and-forth bout in the first half. DiVincenzo delivered his best half of the season. Knocking down threes, driving and kicking, and playing stellar defense against the Rockets’ young perimeter players. He finished with 16 points in the first half, shooting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Rockets’ Alperen Şengün was equally impressive, relentlessly attacking the basket (and Rudy Gobert) with layups and hook shots possession after possession.
The Timberwolves entered halftime with a five-point lead, but it was clear that this game would be a tough one from start to finish. And it certainly was.
Rockets Get Rolling
The Rockets came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring the Timberwolves 32-19 and taking the lead heading into the fourth. The Rockets kept rolling, pushing their lead to 16 with just under five minutes remaining in the game.
During this horrendous stretch, the Timberwolves let go of the rope, seemingly resigning themselves to a split on this brief visit to Texas.
Incredible Comeback
Head coach Chris Finch and the team had other plans.
Finch closed the game with an unusual lineup featuring Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid. This lineup proved effective. After struggling for much of the game, Reid found his rhythm and knocked down key shots. He and Alexander-Walker combined for several crucial three-pointers that helped pull the Timberwolves back into the game. Those threes and some tenacious defense set the stage for Edwards and Randle to complete the comeback.
With about 1:30 left in the game, Edwards blew by Jalen Green for an and-one, pulling the Timberwolves within two. About a minute later, with the Rockets leading by two, Edwards caught the ball on the left wing and sank a step-back three with 23.2 seconds remaining, giving the Timberwolves a 113-112 lead. That shot proved to be the game-winner, as Fred VanVleet missed a three-pointer on the Rockets’ final possession, sealing the Timberwolves’ victory.
Build on This
This thrilling comeback against the Houston Rockets on Friday, coupled with holding off Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day, are strong, character-building victories. These wins highlight the Timberwolves’ resilience and hint at what they might be capable of as the season progresses. If they can build on this momentum from their time in Texas, they have a real chance to re-enter the contender conversation in the Western Conference.
Leave a comment