The sniper scored 22 points in 7/8 shots in the final frame, marking the second highest score in the fourth quarter in Timberwolves history. He lifted Minnesota to a staggering 45 point closing frame.
« He’s a monster, » said Jaylen Nowell. “With every shot he took, he turned to the bench and said, ‘Come on! Come to! “He brings a different energy that we definitely need. He was a big part of our comeback. »
The Timberwolves sank against Oklahoma City on Saturday by dropping more than 40 points in consecutive quarters to open the game – 43 in the first and 40 in the second.
The lack of defensive performance is mostly why Minnesota fell on the thunder between 120 and 118.
After this competition, the main focus was on how the Timberwolves had to bring the energy they had for the last 24 minutes of the game – especially defensive – into the game as a whole.
And then Minnesota came out in Dallas on Monday in the first quarter and gave up … 43 points when Kristaps Porzingis set the wolves on fire for the first 12 minutes.
Once again Minnesota dug too big a hole en route to a 127-122 loss to the Mavericks.
« We understand that the first quarter is not an acceptable start or approach for the game, » said Timberwolves manager Ryan Saunders.
Porzingis ended with 27 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Richardson and Porzingis all scored 95 points as Dallas (11-14) shot 52 percent off the field.
Beasley’s rise brought Minnesota late in the game, but the closer it got, the closer it is. Recovery from 25 point deficits is not an easy task. The wolves have made it a habit to try this. It’s bad.
Not only did they have to try and make the massive deficit without Karl-Anthony Towns staying out during health and safety protocols, but D’Angelo Russell played for the first five minutes on Monday and no longer after he played that Left leg game had pain. Remember, the quad injury that made Russell miss matches was in his left leg.
« He came out at his normal time (1st), wanted to go back at (the three-minute mark), he told me he had leg pain, he was working on it, » Saunders said. « A few minutes later I was told he was not going to return. I have no further information at the moment. »
That put Ricky Rubio in a heavier workload, leaving Jordanell and Anthony Edwards inactive with Jordan McLaughlin to split up the remaining point guard duties.
Edwards finished with 22 points and five assists, while Nowell had 18 points on 6 for 9 shots. That the guards stepped in so admirably during Russell’s absence during the first and sophomore years was positive in Saunders’ book, as was the team’s determination to fight their way back into a game.
What Minnesota (6-18) has done in the last two losses has been the opposite of how it would have dealt with similar situations earlier in the season when little heart was shown when it got tough. Nowell said Saunders lit a fire under the team during the break.
« That’s what we want from this group. We have to correct our first few quarters, but I was told once that when you coach a young team, you teach three levels, » Saunders said. « You teach them, them teaching you to compete at the NBA level, then run and win, and then you teach championship standards. We have to compete for 48 minutes, but I can’t tell you how proud I am of these guys for these 36, but character gains bring you nothing in this league, but it means growth. »
Now Minnesota wants that growth to translate into some wins, especially on a night when Beasley scored 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
« We needed his elevator, » Saunders said. “When we have guys like Karl and D’Angelo out there, you know you need Malik to have a big night. He got bigger late in the game but just wasn’t enough.” Related articles
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