Timberwolves

1/10 RECAP: Timberwolves Break Away in Second Half, Bury Thunder 104-88

(photo credit: Jim Faklis)

The Minnesota Timberwolves won a hard-fought game with the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-88 by enduring their physicality in the first half, then breaking away with offensive firepower in the second.

Minnesota was 18 of 46 (39.1 percent) from the field in the first half, but shot 21 of 34 (61.8 percent) in the latter 24 minutes while holding the Thunder to 35 percent shooting during that time to run away with the contest.

“They got to the loose balls in the first half, and then I thought we reacted better to the ball in the second half. I thought we played with more energy,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau.

“We got some stops, and we were able to run the floor, get some easy baskets and then we started moving the ball pretty good.”

This win comes on the heels of a 127-99 blowout win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Thibodeau credited the development of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins for the team’s sudden improvement, especially defensively.

“What Jimmy and Taj have brought to our team is great leadership,” Thibodeau said for the umpteenth time. “And what we’re seeing now is Karl is really growing and playing some terrific defense, and Andrew’s really coming on also. So when your young guys develop and get better, it helps everybody.”

Jeff Teague returned from injury, playing in his first game since Dec. 27. He was rusty in the first half, going 1 for 4 from the field, but finished with eight points and started to show some of the explosiveness that he had before suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee.

“I thought he played great,” said Thibodeau. “The thing is, in the second half, he pushed the ball, got into the paint, and he keeps a lot of pressure on the defense. That’s what you need.”

While Russell Westbrook emerged from the fog of war as the highest-scoring player, finishing with 38 points, the Wolves beat the Thunder with contributions from across the board. Butler led the team with 26 points, but Wiggins led the team in scoring most of the game and finished with 19. Towns chipped in 18 points and 12 boards for his league-leading 35th double-double of the year.

Thibodeau, who used an eight-man rotation earlier this season, deployed his entire bench in this game.

Tyus Jones has emerged as a viable backup while showing potential as a starter in Teague’s absence, and Gorgui Dieng has played well in games where Towns has run into foul trouble.

“I thought Tyus came in with the second group, and ran the team well,” said Thibodeau. “Jamal gave us great minutes. Matching up with them is hard, because they sub Paul [George] early, and then he comes back with that second unit.”

Their presence in this game allowed Teague to sit while he was rusty, and Gibson, 32, to play more reasonable minutes for a player his age. Thibodeau also capitalized on the emergence of Marcus Georges-Hunt, who made the team out of camp and has found a role as a lock-down wing defender.

Wiggins contained George. Towns battled with Steven Adams. Butler made ridiculous shots when he had to. And Thibodeau is using his bench more effectively. They are starting to find a winning formula, and have taken the season series from the Thunder, 3-1.

“You have to fight human nature,” Thibodeau cautioned. “When you start feeling good in this league, that’s usually when you get knocked down. So you’ve gotta get ready for that next one, they all count the same, and so your approach has to be right.”

It was a signature win, one against a team that has won the Northwest Division in five of the past seven years. The fact that the first three games were so close and this one became a blowout show how far the Wolves have come.

If this is what the 4-5 matchup ends up being in the West, we’re all in for a treat.

Notes

  • This was the Wolves’ fifth consecutive sellout, the first time that has happened since Mar. 21-Apr. 4, 2004.
  • This was the Wolves’ sixth straight win at Target Center. The last time that happened was from Dec. 16, 2003 to Feb. 6, 2004.
  • Minnesota has held seven straight opponents to fewer than 100 points.

Listen to Tom on Wolves Wired!

Timberwolves
Jordan McLaughlin’s Adaptability Remains Invaluable For the Wolves
By Jonah Maves - Mar 28, 2024
Timberwolves
Draymond Green’s Antics Are Beneath the Wolves
By Andrew Dukowitz - Mar 27, 2024
Timberwolves

The Wolves Unlocked Something By Starting Naz Reid

(photo credit: Jim Faklis)

Naz Reid. Those two words were the only thing you could see or hear inside Target Center on Friday after in-arena host Jon Berry instructed the sold-out […]

Continue Reading