Timberwolves survive Nets on back end of back to back
The Timberwolves once again let an inferior opponent hang around.
Playing the Brooklyn Nets in New York on the second half of a back to back Thursday night, Minnesota built a lead as large as 17 points in the third quarter, only to see it whittled down to two points with 7.4 seconds remaining.
Mikal Bridges had been giving the Timberwolves fits all night, and he had an opportunity to tie the game from the free-throw line late after being fouled on a shot attempt by Jaden McDaniels.
But Bridges missed the first attempt, forcing himself to intentionally miss the second. He stepped over the line as he threw it off the rim and it was Minnesota basketball.
The Nets couldn’t foul Anthony Edwards in the final 2.4 seconds off the ensuing inbounds pass, and Edwards dribbled out a 96-94 Timberwolves victory.
"I thought we did a good job being disciplined, even in the last seconds when we found a way to stay together," Karl-Anthony Towns said in his postgame, on-court interview. "I thought even the last play, I'm really proud of (our) execution to get the ball in and run the clock out. It was good execution, late-game execution."
The game was far closer than it needed to be, but fourth-quarter turnovers and timely third-quarter makes from the Nets (17-27) kept the game within reach. The Wolves (32-13) had 14 turnovers in the game, eight of which came in the fourth quarter.
The Timberwolves' defense kept them alive, however. Even while turnovers plagued them and shots weren't falling down the stretch, Minnesota was always able to fall back on its defense, including several key stops late in the game.
Minnesota had got off to a slow start in the first quarter, falling behind by seven points entering the second frame, but the Timberwolves opened quarter No. 2 on a 7-0 run to quickly knot the game before taking the lead and control of the game.
Towns and Edwards scored eight and seven points, respectively, in the frame as Minnesota took a 60-48 lead at the halftime break. Towns had 27 points and Edwards had 24, but Edwards struggled shooting the ball, hitting on just 8 of 23 attempts.
Mike Conley returned from a two-game absence — he missed Monday's game for a rest day and Wednesday's game due to illness — and had 10 points and four assists.
The Timberwolves kept their momentum going early in the third quarter, stretching the lead as large as 17 points, but the Nets used an 8-0 run to start chipping away, putting themselves within striking distance, heading into the fourth down 81-74.
Final key stats
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 27 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists (6 turnovers)
- Anthony Edwards: 24 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal
- Rudy Gobert: 10 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal
- Mike Conley: 10 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
- Cam Thomas: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
- Mikal Bridges: 21 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound
