Chris Finch criticized for 'bad' lineup in disaster against lowly Spurs

Wolves melt down in fourth quarter for fourth time in five games.

Author:
Joe Nelson
Publish date:
Jan 28, 2024 9:59 AM EST

Chris Finch is receiving criticism for his coaching performance in the Timberwolves' 113-112 loss in San Antonio Saturday night.

Leading by 10 points, Finch started the fourth quarter with a lineup of Jordan McLaughlin, Shake Milton, Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert. That group stayed on the floor together for less than three minutes and the Spurs outscored them 10-2 while gaining serious momentum.

According to Timberwolves reporter Dane Moore, the foursome of Gobert, Anderson, Milton and McLaughlin were on court together for about 6 1/2 minutes and they were outscored 21-6 in those minutes.

The Spurs hit 4-of-7 shots to start the fourth quarter and clawed their way from down 10 at 90-80 to down two at 92-90 before Finch called timeout to bring Towns and Alexander-Walker back into the game. Finch waited only 27 more seconds before Edwards was back.

Even with the big guns back on the floor the Spurs stayed hot, making seven straight shots from the 7:14 mark until there was just over 2:30 remaining. In that time they went from down 95-94 to up 107-105.

At the end of the day, Minnesota blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and had every chance to win despite the Spurs being scorching-hot. It's the latest example in an alarming trend of abysmal fourth quarter performances.

Here's how they've been outscored in fourth quarters in four of their past five games.

Spurs outscored them 33-22
Nets outscored them 20-15
Hornets outscored them 36-18
Thunder outscored them 28-14

Minnesota (32-14) entered the game tied atop the Western Conference standings while the Spurs (10-36) were on the second night of a back to back as the worst team in the West.

Now the Timberwolves, with pressure mounting, have to play the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder in OKC on Monday night. The Thunder are 2-1 against Minnesota and have won five straight and nine of their past 11. The good news for the Wolves is that they get Sunday off while the Thunder play a matinee game in Detroit.