It had everything.
Fans standing at the beginning of the game for so long that their feet started to ache, a 19-point deficit, a head coach out sick, and perhaps the loudest crowd pop of the season that rivaled the Oklahoma City Thunder game when the final buzzer sounded and Anthony Edwards threw the ball form halfcourt.
On the tail end of a back-to-back and facing one of the best defenses in the league, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off their most impressive win of the season.
In what started off
as a forgettable first quarter, the Wolves did not score until the 7:21 mark of the first quarter, finding themselves down 16-0 and in a hole that felt insurmountable against a team boasting a healthy Victor Wembanyama looking to capitalize against his fellow countryman in Rudy Gobert.
“We talked before the game, let’s let them feel good about themselves and get up 16-0,” fill-in Head Coach Micah Nori said after the game with his usual tongue-in cheek nature and smile on his face. “We couldn’t buy a shot.”
Nori was filling in for Chris Finch, a late scratch before the game due to an illness.
If Finch was losing his voice during the day, I would imagine it certainly was gone by the end of the first half from yelling at the TV.
A lack of ball contain early on and subpar shot selection saw the Wolves in a hole at halftime. Anthony Edwards was stuggling early with just four points through the first quarter and a half, and his partner in crime in Julius Randle had just four points at halftime.
Much of it compounded out of the locker room to start the third quarter. Wembanyama caught fire from three to add to his 16 first half points, and what was a 13-point halftime lead for San Antonio quickly compounded into a 19 point prospective blowout. Groan after collective groan was let out from a sold out Target Center as the Spurs methodically marched down the floor and took advantage of a soft defense from the Wolves.
But a theme from the season that continues to show itself time and time again once again started to percolate. When the clock starts to wind and the result of the game becomes more real, the Wolves snap into shape and find a level of concentration they previously weren’t able to.
“Sometimes it’s going to be ugly…but we’re resilient,” Naz Reid said in the locker room after. “Somehow, some way, we pull it out.”
Somehow, some way.
While might have guessed the outcome of the game from the first few sentences, the way in which the fourth quarter inevitably went and how it was closed out may not have been predicted by anyone, and it’s could be fair to say that it gave you…goosebumps.
Up Next
The Timberwolves will cross state lines and head to Wisconsin for their series finale agains the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. It was a slog last time they met up, with the Bucks missing Giannis Antetokuonmpo. A 103-100 battle that ended in favor of the Wolves, they’ll see a healthier Milwaukee team that will have their franchise player in the fold.
Under .500 this season, the Bucks have won three of their last four and will welcome the Wolves off of a date with Denver. Tipoff is at 7:00 PM CST.
