The Minnesota Timberwolves are up 2-0 in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. It’s quite an extraordinary development, given everything that happened in the regular season between the two teams. Not only have the Wolves beaten the Suns, who took all three regular-season games, but they’ve blown them out in both games.
Despite the undeniably impressive results, Minnesota has had several concerns throughout the season. They have had the best regular season in 20 years and the second-best in franchise history. Still, they have endured adversity throughout it.
The Wolves offense has not been great in the fourth quarters this season, especially when Karl-Anthony Towns has been in the lineup. The ball has had a tendency to get stuck between him and Anthony Edwards, leading to poor shots and multiple turnovers.
However, the Wolves have been fantastic at avoiding this in the Phoenix series. Still, it’s mainly through the leads they have built in two exceptional third quarters. They have not faced a crunch-time fourth quarter against the Suns in any of the five games this season because all of them have been blowouts.
The Suns have had a worse fourth-quarter offense than Minnesota this season. They had the worst fourth-quarter net rating in the regular season at minus-11.6, by far the worst in the NBA. The next closest team was the Miami Heat at minus-5.5. They struggled to maintain leads and had the same stickiness in offense that has plagued the Wolves. Still, fourth-quarter dynamics may change in Phoenix, where the Timberwolves must execute late offense in front of a hostile crowd.
The Wolves may also get a tough whistle on the road. Fans and media have scrutinized the postseason officiating after multiple high-profile controversies involving the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers. On a smaller scale, the refereeing in Game 2 against Phoenix was also controversial, with inconsistencies in how the game was called throughout.
Frank Vogel was so riled up by some calls that he received a technical in the second half, and he could have been ejected for his outburst shortly before that. Vogel ran onto the court to protest to the referees, and the Suns lacked any composure in the second half.
It’s easier to keep composure in your home arena when everyone. But things become more difficult for the Wolves in Phoenix, given there will be the added pressure from performing in front of 18,000 passionate Suns fans.
The Wolves have not always been composed this season despite their winning record. Edwards and Towns tend to lose their cool at referees for what they perceive to be poor decisions. Towns has complained about officiating less this season, but Minnesota’s mettle will be tested on the road, given the significance of Game 3.
If the Wolves take Game 3, the series is all but over. No team has ever come from 3-0 down to win a series in the NBA playoffs, and only a small handful have even come close. The Boston Celtics came from 3-0 down to tie their series against the Miami Heat in 2023, but they still lost in Game 7.
Despite the fantastic defensive performances in both games, Devin Booker feels overdue for a breakout game. Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have shut him down in the first two games. Still, a player of his caliber is capable of impossible shots over two of the best defenders in the league.
Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are also capable of becoming unstoppable offensively. Therefore, the Wolves must stick to their defensive strategy and remain focused on the road. When they stay composed, move the ball, limit turnovers, and do not get distracted by referees, they are one of the best teams in the league – possibly on par with the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets.
Still, there is a long way to go. The Timberwolves have a home-court advantage and have been fantastic in the first two games. But the series is not over. In the last few years, across multiple rosters, the Wolves have won a couple of games and then relaxed. They can’t do that in the playoffs.
However, it’s not likely that they will. The roster has experience and professionalism seeping through it with veterans like Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, and Kyle Anderson. They all know how important it is to keep going and not let up. You never know what can change or when you might be in this position again.
So, if the Wolves are going to take one of the two games in Phoenix, they must stick to the intangibles that won them the first two games: Move the ball on offense, don’t turn the ball over, and stay composed with referees. If they can avoid the bad habits, this series might just be over within the next few days.
