The Minnesota Timberwolves needed that. Whether it was against a good team, a bad team or a team living within anything in-between, they needed that. They needed to see the ball go through the hoop. They needed to see the scoreboard tilt in their favor and stay that way. They needed everything — both on and off the court — that comes with a win. It’s not going to dissolve all of the problems that have been drowning them of late, but it’s a start. They needed a start.
The game ends 129-117. There were a few hiccups and a few moments spent on shaky ground, but that was a scoreline that doesn’t reflect Minnesota’s general comfortability. There is plenty to be said about the quality of basketball the Houston Rockets played in this game and have played throughout the season, but many of those things could be transferred to Minnesota’s start, too. That fact alone should add an extra layer of gloss onto this cruisy win.
Other things were worth celebrating, as well. The Wolves finally found something other than a muddled stack of bricks on their long-range shooting, knocking down a scorching 15-of-33 from behind the arc. They were able to force more turnovers, score more off those turnovers, and exorcise some ball movement demons with 38 assists on 49 made field goals. Again, this doesn’t mean the ship has reached land, but a respite from torrid waters feels ever so welcome.
D’Angelo Russell: 5/10
He started to climb the steep and rocky walls of the pit he has been dwelling in, but he isn’t quite out of it. It’s a fucking deep pit and it’s not going to be easy to escape. Real Silence of the Lambs shit. He avoided getting skinned and turned into a dress with a few silky buckets and less general apathy with the ball in his hands, but he was still a long way from escaping the dark and damp that surrounds him in his pit.
Until he can cut the stupid turnovers, find some sort of way to stay in front of his man defensively, and start making the game-breaking assists we’ve seen in the past, he will remain stranded in that pit.
Finished with 13 points (63% TS), 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 27 minutes — +8.6 net rating.
Anthony Edwards: 7/10
Had another night where he didn’t force it. Another night where the game came to him. Another night where he was good, but not the overawing level of great we know he can be.
The ball-stopping sequences were kept to a minimum and, as a result, the efficiency skyrocketed. He was his usual spotty self defensively, but the offensive side was littered with smart plays with and without the ball. And he finally dunked. Fuck, it was nice to just see him just dunk the ball.
With a ton of offensive talent bordering him, he doesn’t always have to explode like a steroid-laden firework to have a good night. Sometimes he just needs to let the game come to him. Accept the game, embrace the game, cherish the game. It doesn’t always have to be the Ant-Man Booming Bonanza, and that’s okay.
Finished with 19 points (66.3% TS), 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 assists in 33 minutes — +34.4 net rating.
Jaden McDaniels: 8/10
Bounced back. He ended the last game superglued to the bench and firmly in the depths of Chris Finch’s doghouse. And, although there were still some mind-numbing turnovers and another frustration foul, he bounced back. Literally bounced. Stuffed home 25 percent of his season-long dunk total in just this bouncy 35 minutes. Just bouncing all over the fucking place. Alperen Şengün felt it and Jalen Green felt it. Get up or get out the fucking way.
It’s just always nice to see McDaniels thrive. Like a long gangly unicorn finding its feet. He will need to work on producing these kinds of nights consistently, but we should always revere these kinds of nights when they do come around.
Finished with 13 points (72.7% TS), 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 35 minutes — +13.7 net rating.
Kyle Anderson: 10/10
Like a one-man band. Snare drum strapped to his back. Keytar hanging from his fucking neck. Spends the entire evening reminding us all why we were so excited about his presence on this squad. A kaleidoscope of talents, positions, and functions with a hearty helping of veteran leadership sprinkled in there.
Whether he was moonlighting as a big lanky point guard with the ball in his hands, defending wings without it, or even thriving in all the machinations that make a successful small-ball center, he was awesome. The tasty little cherry on top of his snail’s pace cake was the pair of corner triples he knocked down. Just an all-around masterful performance.
Finished with 16 points (96.2% TS), 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in 31 minutes — +18.4 net rating.
Karl-Anthony Towns: 7/10
Really thought we saw every color of his rainbow in this one. Of course, he is a machine scorer. A three-level mythical creature who saw nothing but puppy chow standing in front of him. On paper, Houston’s frontcourt never stood a chance, and reality proved no different. Once again, he mixed in a sick array of post-passing and live-dribble dimes to go along with his scoring — that has become an every-night constant.
However, the other side of Towns isn’t as pretty. And that side was prevalent in this one, too. Just a paper mâché ball being punted around defensively. He was bullied, beaten, and baptized all night long. And, when he or his teammates were able to force a Houston miss, he was cemented to the ground on the defensive glass. We know he can do the pretty stuff — the stuff that makes that rainbow glisten — but he needs to do more of the ugly stuff.
Finished with 25 points (77.2% TS), 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks in 30 minutes — +2.4 net rating.
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