The Minnesota Timberwolves rolled into Madison Sq. Backyard and leveled up this season’s sequence with a giant win.
Karl-Anthony Cities and the New York Knicks humiliated their former crew, the Minnesota Timberwolves, on December nineteenth with a 133-107 victory at their very own stadium.
Almost a month later, the Timberwolves received revenge with a 116-99 win in New York, however the recreation lacked the identical taste.
The T-Wolves had little to play as Cities missed the sport with an damage, however former Knicks star Donte DiVincenzo additionally sat out towards a crew he did not need to depart.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves to victory with a 36-13-7 efficiency, which appears fairly regular for him at this stage.
The large story off the bench was 2019 undrafted prospect and present Sixth Man of the 12 months Naz Reid, who had 23 factors and eight rebounds.
It was Reed’s third-highest rating of the season, along with his earlier highs being 28 factors towards the Path Blazers and 34 factors towards the Cavaliers final March.
In an interview with New York’s MSG Community, former Knicks star Wally Szczewiak praised Reid and was relieved that the Timberwolves would commerce Karl-Anthony Cities, who has performed at a excessive stage, to the Knicks. He mentioned he believes the principle purpose is his development and potential. New York after I’m wholesome.
“There is a purpose Naz Reid was named Sixth Man of the 12 months,” Szczerbiak mentioned. “He is a stretch 5. They will actually shoot the basketball, however that is not all he can do. No. He is a really clever basketball participant.
“And the explanation they have been keen to let go of Karl-Anthony Cities, who’s only a celebrity, is as a result of they’ve a lot religion in Nas Reid, to fill the void left by Karl-Anthony Cities. I believe it is as a result of I had such religion in what he may do,” what he did. ”
“That is why they made that transfer pondering it might open up loads of avenues for Naz Reid. You may have a participant like Julius Randle who compliments Gobert completely.”
Minnesota has struggled to seek out their id and hasn’t been fully profitable, however Szczerbiak nonetheless believes they are going to be a pressure to be reckoned with when it counts.
He mentioned: “This crew is struggling slightly bit… They’re making an attempt to determine issues out, however you may see when the items come collectively. This crew is fairly formidable and we’re making ready to be an influential crew on the earth. Playoffs. ”
The following night time, the Timberwolves confronted a fired-up Cleveland Cavaliers who had simply misplaced to OKC, shedding 124-117.
Naz Reid had one other productive night time, scoring 16 factors off the bench, however it wasn’t sufficient regardless of Edwards’ 28 factors.
With DiVincenzo out, Mike Conley returned to motion for the Timberwolves’ remaining two video games, however he solely contributed 9 factors because the starter.
This implies Chris Finch’s facet are 22-20, only one win forward of three groups at 21-20, three of which sit in eleventh place exterior of the play-in spot. .
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