The Minnesota Timberwolves sealed their spot in the playoffs after a brilliant 116-105 win against the Utah Jazz.
Led by Anthony Edwards‘ 43-point performance, the Minnesota Timberwolves looked like the better team throughout the game and bagged the crucial win.
Rudy Gobert once again stepped up for the T-Wolves as he scored 19 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, while also managing to block four shots in the game.
Coach Chris Finch was particularly impressed with bench players Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid who combined for 27 points.
Finch stated DiVincenzo and Reid were playing good in recent games, but had struggled shooting the ball.
However, DiVincenzo finally made a statement as he shot 4-8 from three-point range against the Jazz, while Reid’s struggled continued from beyond the arc.
But last year’s sixth man of the year, made his presence felt by doing other good things on the court and helped his team get the win.
Speaking in the press conference, coach Finch said: “We gotta get some other guys playing back playing to the level I think they need to.
“It was good to see a great game from Naz and Donte today. I think Donte shot the leather off the ball, but Naz made a lot of just hostile plays, offensive rebounds, things that you just have to do.
“It’s good to see those guys, and they’ve played well a couple of the last few games, but not, having been connecting on the shot so, pretty good.”
The T-Wolves first round matchup has been decided and they will be up against the fiery LA Lakers.
With Luka Doncic playing the way he has in recent games, the T-Wolves will have to be at their best if they want to have any chance of winning against the Purple and Gold.
Edwards has been showing up in recent games and that is a great sign, but the likes of Julius Randle, DiVincenzo and Reid will have to all step up in this first round series.
Lakers coach JJ Redick gave his thoughts about the matchup against the T-Wolves and stated it was going to a tricky opponent for the team.
Speaking about the first round series, Redick said after the Lakers loss against the Portland Trailblazers: “Very difficult opponent, they’ve played as well as anyone lately and are one of the four teams in the top ten offense and defense, so they present a lot of problems.”
T-Wolves have players who can play on both ends and that is what makes them a tough side to beat.
They did not get to the best of starts this season, but after the All-Star break have looked like a team on a mission.
The Lakers are going to be a tough side for anyone to beat, but the physicality that the Timberwolves bring is going to be challenging for LeBron James and his troops.
