While Defensive Player of the Year favorite Rudy Gobert has earned much of the credit for anchoring a Timberwolves defense that ranked No. 1 in the NBA this season, Minnesota turned in an impressive defensive performance without Gobert available on Monday, limiting the Nuggets to just 80 points on 34.9% shooting and forcing 19 turnovers in a Game 2 blowout.
“We’ve had some really, really good defensive efforts this year, but that has to be right up there with the best of them,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “On the ball, off the ball, the physicality, the execution of the game plan. … Just really locked in on defense.”
Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns led the offensive attack for the Wolves with 27 points apiece, but it was fellow starter Jaden McDaniels who turned in the game’s best plus-minus mark (+26) despite recording as many fouls as points (5) and making just 2-of-7 shots from the floor. McDaniels’ under-the-radar impact didn’t go unnoticed by his head coach.
“He hasn’t connected in the scoring column, but my God, he’s a +26. The other day he was a +23,” Finch said (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic). “He didn’t have a bucket. He’s got five points in the series and he’s a +50. It’s not about how you score, it’s about how you help your team win.”
Here’s more on the Wolves, who will take a 2-0 lead over the defending champs back home to Minnesota:
- Gobert, who missed Game 2 due to the birth of his first child, is expected to return to the lineup for Game 3, says McMenamin. That game won’t be played until Friday, giving the teams three days off this week.
- Finch lauded his team after Monday’s win for its effort on defense, sharing the ball, and generally playing like a team that fans want to root for, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes. Naz Reid suggested those traits are the result of a culture that has improved in recent years. “When I first got here, [the culture] wasn’t the best, it wasn’t perfect,” Reid said. “But obviously we’re all humans, and over that time we gradually got better. We got more cultured. Time to where we kind of became a unit, a team where we trust each other. We’re selling out for each other.”
- The Timberwolves still need 10 more victories to win a championship, but they look like the NBA’s best team right now, contends Jim Souhan of The Star Tribune. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports makes a similar case in a column of his own, writing that Minnesota has made the Nuggets look like anything but champions.
- Wolves reserve point guard Monte Morris exited Game 2 due to a right index finger sprain, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s unclear whether the injury will force him to miss additional time going forward. Morris has played just 40 total minutes across Minnesota’s six playoff games, so his possible absence wouldn’t have a significant impact on the team’s rotation.
- As the Wolves continue to dominate on the court, the team’s off-the-court ownership battle between Glen Taylor and the Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez group is headed to arbitration. Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic spoke to a handful of legal experts to get a sense of what to expect from that process. “I see this as an uphill battle for Taylor,” one sports investment banker told Vorkunov,” but something that might make sense for him to have potential asymmetric upside if he can either prevail or find a way to get a settlement or a higher number.”
A settlement for a higher number…
That right there is what this is all about… Glen the snake Taylor trying to get an extra bit of profit on his way out the door…
I am assume you aren’t surprised either?
To his credit, Glen is a big Minnesota guy. He was born and grew up there, and kept his business in the state. I’m sure it would be hard to see something you’ve started and had to deal with all the losing, all of a sudden to see them winning when you are about to give away the team. On top of that, he gave A-Rod a sweatheart deal, and the NBA franchise values have exploded in the meantime. On top of that, A-Rod has no money, he said they were going to strip this team down to the studs to avoid the luxury tax. That would mean trading away McDaniels to the 76ers for two firsts, and not re-signing anyone.
The amount of misinformation in this comment is wild.
Nuggets didnt really look good against the Lakers either. Timberwolves do look like a great team but the Nuggets are also noticeably worse.
Probably just comes down to Murray being hobbled.
Oh my, the Wolves are putting a beat down on the nuggets for sure. They look amazing. What a rapid Ascension for a young team maturing before our eyes in a very short time.
Wonderful to see of course but I definitely didn’t expect it. At least not yet. Nice job by the Wolves and it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.
They could definitely go a long way this year and it’s because of their defense. Their offense is very good but their defense is outstanding.
If Minn advances they have the advantage over both OKC and Dallas. Defense with big guys that are playing so well.
Not surprised by Minnesota’s ability to beat Denver, but a beatdown is another thing. Nugs finally getting exposed for their lack of depth. Arguably be the worst bench unit of any West playoff team.
Underrated trade: Timberwolves send out locker room cancer D’Lo on an expiring deal to Lakers, get back 2nd round pick. Jazz then send out Mike Conley, two seconds AND Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Minnesota. Jazz take on Russ contract, JTA, and Damian Jones. Send out Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley for Lakers Top-4 protected 2027 First. I don’t want to hear ever again about how Ainge is some mastermind because he got the desperate Nets to trade with him.
Again – Jazz send out Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Mike Conley, Jared Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, two seconds, take on ton of salary, and only get a Top-4 protected 1st? If Lakers are a lottery winner in 2027, which is a strong possibility, the Jazz end up with nothing to show for all of what they gave up.
Ainge got absolutely taken to the woodshed with this trade.
Beasley and Alexander-Walker are decent role players but they’re both easily replaceable. I like his energy and he’s a decent rebounder but Vanderbilt is only 25 and already on his 5th team plus Utah’s not on the hook for close to $35M over the next 3 seasons for a second string big that has no offense. Conley is one of my favorite players but his contract and age on a rebuilding team made no sense. It was also a favor to let him go and compete on a contending team. Russ, JTA and Damian Jones was just money spent an in Damian Jones’ case they recovered some of it but now all three are off the books going forward. If that what it takes to get a first round that is very likely to convey? If take it.