Timberwolves-Suns: 5 takeaways from Wolves' dominant Game 2 win
The Timberwolves are just two wins away from securing a playoff series for the first time in two decades.
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MINNEAPOLIS – Never mind that no Timberwolves team in 20 years had started 2-0 in a playoff series until now. That’s ancient history and, besides, the Wolves only participated in three series between 2004 and now.
The fact that the Wolves have outscored the Suns by 37 points in Games 1 and 2 of their Western Conference first round matchup might be more interesting. This is the largest point difference since last spring when Denver beat Minnesota by 38 in a series that the eventual NBA champions won in five.
It’s too soon to know what significance that turnabout might have in the coming weeks, but here are five takeaways from the Wolves’ 105-93 victory Tuesday at Target Center:
1. Minnesota’s defense did what stars do
At this point in the year, the NBA’s top players establish their fame and amass their wealth. They rise to the occasion during the postseason, doing everything necessary to secure a victory. Undeniably, the standout element of this Timberwolves team throughout the season has been their defense.
The Wolves limiting Phoenix to 95 points in Game 1 was only the beginning. They further reduced that to 93 in Game 2, marking the first time the Suns have scored under 100 in back-to-back games since camp started in October. Although the Suns fell short of hitting triple digits only five times throughout the season, they have been unsuccessful in their two attempts this week.
The Wolves, for context, ranked first in 2023-24 in defensive efficiency at 108.4 points allowed per 100 possessions. Boston was second at 108.6, a gap of 2.2 points that was as big as the gap from Boston to the 10th-ranked Houston Rockets.
The Suns (116.8) ranked 10th offensively but Minnesota’s defense has been mightier so far. Their trio of potent scorers — Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal — averaged 72.4 points during the season but have managed just 64 and 52 so far. They were held to six made field goals each Tuesday for a cumulative 18-for-45 (40%) grind.
In one of the eight quarters, Phoenix has attained 30 points. Concurrently, they have given up the ball 36 times, leading to 54 points for Minnesota.
When queried about his thoughts on his team’s execution, Suns coach Frank Vogel could have echoed an old sentiment from NFL Tampa Bay coach John McKay, saying, “I’m in favor of it.”
Credit should indeed go to Minnesota. Though the emerging superstar Anthony Edwards has been in the individual spotlight most of the time, it was the team’s collective tenacity that prevailed in the end.
“From the first minute of the game, our urgency level is at its peak,” stated Rudy Gobert, the linchpin of Minnesota’s defense. “We understand that by intensifying our game, we can become a distinctive defensive team.”
2. McDaniels seizes his moment
From the beginning to the end, Edwards drew the attention of Suns defenders, managing to score only three of his 12 shots and earning seven of his 15 points from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns found himself embroiled in foul trouble due to his increased defensive responsibilities, particularly defending Durant, which resulted in him sitting out all but eight minutes of the first half.
Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who are backups, were scoring at a rate half of what they had in Game 1. This created an opportunity for someone else to step up, and Jaden McDaniels did just that with his Euro-step.
He racked up 25 points and eight rebounds, only one less than his season’s best in each category, and made 10 out of 17 shots in over 41 minutes of play. The fourth-year wing, standing 6-foot-9 and weighing 185 pounds, possesses the reach, length, and lateral speed to hassle scorers of all types, with Booker and Durant being the ones usually attempting to evade him.
“Coach Chris Finch said, “He had a special performance.”
it ain't over. pic.twitter.com/oGjK7H7drD
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 24, 2024
The coaching staff of the Wolves has been encouraging McDaniels to show more aggression towards the basket and on the glass. Despite sometimes being overshadowed by teammates who dominate the ball, an opportunity presented itself.
You may remember that McDaniels didn’t participate in the previous postseason at all. He was unable to play in Minnesota’s series against Denver due to a broken hand, which he suffered from punching a wall towards the end of the regular season. His teammate, Mike Conley, expressed how much he and the team missed McDaniels during their matches against the Nuggets.
“Yes, he won’t admit it, but I am aware that it really affected him somewhat because it was more of his own doing than anything else,” said the experienced point guard. “We understood that his presence made our team more complete and gave us an opportunity to exert some pressure on any opponent. I believe this experience prepared him for the current year. He seems to have a different attitude now. He’s making the most of the chance to compete against the world’s best players and show off his skills during peak viewing times.”
3. Booker ready for flight home
In his first experience of postseason action in 2021, Booker achieved an average of over 27 points, contributing to the Suns’ journey all the way to the Finals. The following spring, he excelled further with an average of 33.7 points per game (ppg), successfully hitting 50% of his 3-point shots.
However, he has managed to score 38 points in two games, with an 11-for-29 shooting record and a 3-for-12 record from the arc. His performance diminished in Game 1 due to McDaniels’ focus on him, leading to six turnovers before he was disqualified for fouling on Tuesday.
At one point, he engaged in a physical exchange with his defensive tormentor. Shortly after, Booker incurred his fifth and sixth fouls within a 15-second interval. It appeared as though he was prepared to exit the court, the arena, the state, the postal area, and even the time zone.
“He expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s solely within the team. We have to execute. And when things go south, we need to stick together. We’ve been doing that all season, and it’s something that needs fixing.”
4. A giddy Gobert challenge
Midway through the first quarter, the Wolves broke downcourt and Gobert was leading the fast break. He ran into Phoenix’s lumbering center Jusuf Nurkic at the far end, flipping the ball up and, after a bounce, in.
Regrettably, the 7-foot-1 center was penalized with an offensive foul. However, coach Chris Finch contested the decision and won, saving Gobert’s fanciful sprint and finish. To add to the drama, Nurkic received the foul. Gobert missed his bonus free throw, but McDaniels collected the rebound, was hit, and made his two foul shots, rounding off the four-point sequence.
“I didn’t notice anyone running alongside me,” Gobert stated, “so I just seized the opportunity.”
5. Allen twists another night away
Suns guard Grayson Allen logged 25 minutes in Game 1 before twisting his right ankle and leaving for the night. This time, Allen was done after playing 17:27, stepping on Conley’s foot on defense to badly twist it again.
Phoenix’s attack was greatly affected both times, creating a void. The Wolves capitalized on this, going on a 27-12 run after his exit on Saturday, extending their lead to 25. In the most recent instance, Minnesota outdid the Suns, scoring 20-10 in the following six minutes, increasing their lead to 72-63.
As a result, Allen has scored only seven points on 1-of-5 shooting in the series. He can try again in Game 3 Friday at Footprint Center (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
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