So far, the Minnesota Timberwolves are making the Phoenix Suns look old and helpless in their first-round playoff series.
All that, and Anthony Edwards (15 points, 3-of-12 shooting) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points) looked like mere mortals in the Wolves’ Game 2 win on Tuesday. Instead, it was the likes of Jaden McDaniels (25 points), Rudy Gobert (18) and Mike Conley (ditto) leading the charge.
Mostly, the Timberwolves broke out their playoff-style defense to overcome a 51-50 halftime deficit for a 105-93 victory. They lead the series, 2-0, heading to Phoenix. And despite losing to the Suns in all three regular-season matchups, the Wolves look today like the superior squad.
“Everyone down the list has shown they’ll be willing to do whatever it takes to sacrifice whatever it is for the betterment of the team,” Towns told reporters.
Gobert then discussed the defense when it was mentioned how the Suns’ Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to shoot a miserable 18-of-45.
“We can see it. I can feel it. I can see them. It’s tough,” Gobert said. “No one likes going against the type of defense that we’re playing right now.”
McDaniels has been particularly aggressive, even getting into a brief pushing match with Booker. McDaniels missed last year’s playoffs after breaking his hand after punching a wall — but it’s that type of intensity that’s benefitting Minnesota today.
“Everyone on the team does a good job helping me manage emotions and stuff like that,” McDaniels said of his confrontation with Booker. “It’s a physical game. There’s nothing serious between us. Sometimes things happen.”
Yes, sometimes things happen. And right now, through two games, that happening is the Timberwolves.
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