For a team battling for the top spot in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t have asked for a better matchup on Wednesday night.
The Timberwolves draw a home game in Minneapolis against the league’s worst team, the Detroit Pistons.
Minnesota (49-22) continues to hang tough despite Karl-Anthony Towns’ knee injury, which has sidelined him since March 4.
The Timberwolves have won five of their last six games, including a 114-110 triumph over Golden State on Sunday. They’re still within striking distance of Denver and Oklahoma City in the fight for home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
They knocked down 21 of their 40 3-point attempts against a Warriors team that features the “Splash Brothers” of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
“We were getting stops and we were running, trying to catch them off balance before their defense could get set,” Minnesota guard Mike Conley said. “You’ve got multiple playmakers in that group and, whoever got the ball, we told that guy to sprint up the court and make a play. Everybody just played off each other.”
Naz Reid, Towns’ replacement in the lineup, led the 3-point barrage by making six of his eight attempts. Minnesota has exceeded expectations this season, while the Warriors have to hang on to make the play-in tournament.
“I’m just happy we (are) not in the play-in game,” Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards said. “My (Team) USA brothers, they thought we (were) gonna be in the play-in again, so I’m happy to prove them wrong.”
Edwards contributed 23 points as the Timberwolves recorded 30 assists on 40 made baskets.
“We’re very deep. This team is tremendous,” Reid said. “Everybody puts their best foot forward, so everybody has the right intentions. Everybody has the right mindset. It’s anybody’s day at any moment.”
The Pistons seem determined to finish the season with a dozen victories. Detroit (12-60) has lost seven straight while holding out nearly half its roster due to assorted injuries. The Pistons need to win four more games just to equal their worst season in franchise history.
Last week, the club announced that three players, including two starters, were out for the season. Top player Cade Cunningham has sat out the last two games due to knee soreness and starting center Jalen Duren has missed three straight games with back spasms.
Top reserve forward Simone Fontecchio (toe) hasn’t played since March 17. Reserve guard Quentin Grimes (knee) hasn’t suited up since March 13.
The only usual starter who played on Monday against the New York Knicks was second-year guard Jaden Ivey, who was limited to nine points in a 124-99 blowout loss.
The Knicks led by 19 by the end of the first quarter. New York guard Donte DiVincenzo sank a franchise-record 11 3-pointers while scoring 40 points.
“We couldn’t make a shot and missed shots turned into transition for them and they got threes off of that,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “I don’t think we were as deflated as it looked, we just couldn’t make a shot. For the game, we didn’t shoot it well.”
