NBA -Final Result: Timberwolves 141, Spurs 124: A long -awaited exhale

Minnesota Timberwolves have been, too big chunks this season, unable to get out of their own way. There were losses against bad teams that are admittedly for each team, but there was a far more annoying trend. Although they would not lose every fight against poor competition, they certainly couldn’t make it an easy game.

Tonight, if even for one night, it wasn’t true. The wolves won a thread-to-wire dominance where they led all the way through toward a tanking San Antonio Spurs team. It may not have been perfect, but it was appreciated.

And it’s worth celebrating.

The game was overwritten by a Rudy Gobert-Backwoman, which led to the re-affection of Naz Reid, who has been pretty good as a starter. Gobert had a solid view with 16 points and eight rebounds. Naz Reid also had a strong game in his previous role with 20 points and a dazzling row of baby hooks.

However, it was Anthony Edwards’ race in the third quarter that led to this battle. The cord remained on a comfortable double digit in most of the game, but it was Ant’s 12 points that helped push it out of reach.

Although GOBERT remains the biggest story tonight, there are still smaller notes to keep track of.

Let’s get to it.

It’s time to worry about Rob Dillingham

Rob Dillingham has not played for a few minutes at non-garbage time in March. Although not very long, it continues the trend set by head coach Chris Finch earlier this season. If Donte Divincenzo plays, it’s more likely than not that Dillingham won’t be.

The diminishing guard has shown signs of being a spark plug from the bench, but a lack of consistency or string to work with has proven to make his transition from Kentucky more difficult.

There is something that needs to be said about the general body language and a clear accident by Dillingham on the bench (which makes sense he wants to play), but even at the court’s performance has been less than ideal.

In just three minutes of gametime, Rob had revenue (could have been two, if not for a Luka Garza tip drill) and an assist. He missed his only shot at night.

The question of Dillingham to be a player in the rotation level will always be an uphill in his size, but before he can prove to overcome his size, he has to earn his minutes and he has not failed to do it as the third best rookie on Wolves this season.

Vincent Carchietta-prescribed images

Approved by Lightning McQueen: No Rust

Rudy Gobert was back with sixteen points and eight rebounds. Donte Divincenzo has shot over 50% from deep. Julius Randle has missed three equally triple doubles by basketball equivalent with loose change between the sofa cushions.

I know people will hate to hear this, but it’s probably a sign of good coaching.

Much has been said about Chris Finch’s failures as a leader or as a time-out-caller, but the constant readiness of rookies to play within their expected roles in a system along with the easy reintegration of players after lack of time should be enough to write off any real concern for ordinary seasonal errors.

On a more specific note, the return of Knicks Donte Divincenzo should be the most exciting part of this season. After a difficult start of the year, Donte has been absolutely incredible. The Villanova The product will need to improve its playmaking to make the starting lineup a good fit, but he will certainly replace Mike Conley before rather than later.

Julius Randle’s fit has been very malignant, but his passing clearly enables this team offensively in a way that makes his lack of shooting less of a factor.

It’s all relatively exciting things. To watch Wolves leave a ramp period when you come to full strength, expectations of a potential playoff series raise. Time shows if they can catch Warriors for the sixth seed, but they will be an incredibly difficult first round opponent for the one they can phase.

Shooting cares forward

Julius Randle shoots 31.7% from three this year. Jaden McDaniels shoots 32.8%. Rudy Gobert is a strong 0 for 0 this season and is the definition of a non-shooter.

Even with Donte and Ant, which is probably a top-three or so shooting duo in the league, it is probably the origin of the distance problems that shine so bright because of how good Edwards see three starters below average are probably the origin of the distance problems that shine so bright because of how good Edwards look with Naz Reid and Donte Divincenzo.

This, as much as the quest to keep Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Julius Randle in free agency, is the biggest question going on in the summer. Is a trio of comparative non-shooters good enough offensive to allow starters the opportunity to work? At times yes. But more often than not there are too many players lurking in the Dunkers site and not enough shooting to walk around.

Just as it is with many wolves -related things, it comes down to when, and if, Naz Reid becomes a starter.

Up next

Timberwolves fly to Denver to take the wave Nuggets And MVP -Frone Trunner Nikola Jokić in an incredibly important game for both teams as the standing war in the West continues.

It is another new match for the Western conference semi -final that lives on ESPN. Tipoff is scheduled to Wednesday 3/12 on 9:00 cst.