The Minnesota Timberwolves prefer to brag that their crew has seven gamers who might begin on NBA groups. In Tuesday’s Sport 1, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder confirmed they could have 9 or 10 starters, overwhelming the Wolves within the third quarter with huge performances from reserves for a 114-88 win.
The Thunder rode a 17-2 third quarter run to a dominant second half the place they scored 70 factors on 62 p.c capturing, turning a recreation the place they trailed at halftime into a cushty blowout victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way in which with 31 factors and 9 assists, nevertheless it was a full-squad victory for the Thunder.
Jalen Williams scored 19 factors and picked up eight rebounds, ending with 5 assists and 5 steals. Chet Holmgren did his injury inside, scoring 15 factors on 9 photographs with two blocks. Six totally different Thunder gamers had steals, together with all 5 starters, as OKC compelled 19 turnovers, which led 31 factors for the Thunder.
Within the second half, the Thunder obtained enormous contributions for gamers who largely sat of their second-round sequence with the Denver Nuggets. Third-string heart Kenrich Williams was +19 in simply 9 minutes, stymying Naz Reid and Julius Randle on protection and making all three of his photographs, two of them from deep. Second-year guard Cason Wallace performed 33 minutes and delivered seven assists. He barely scored, ending with three factors, however his protection and ball distribution helped him to a +21 plus/minus.
The waves of Thunder gamers appear to put on down the Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels scored the primary 5 factors of the sport, then solely scored two the remainder of the way in which, fouling out within the closing quarter. Julius Randle had 20 factors at halftime, then solely eight afterward. Anthony Edwards disappeared down the stretch, maybe feeling the consequences of a first-half ankle damage, going scoreless within the fourth.
Rudy Gobert dedicated two early fouls and was restricted to 21 minutes, the place he was solely capable of acquire three rebounds. Reid, DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker mixed to shoot 5-of-28 on three-pointers. A few of that was dangerous luck, however a lot of that was the Timberwolves’ reluctance to drive on the Thunder. They shot 51 threes, 61 p.c of their field-goal makes an attempt.
If the Timberwolves wish to get again within the sequence, their reserves have to play like starters. In any other case the deep Thunder will bury them in waves of gifted backups.
