In a game that should not have been all that close, the Timberwolves pulled away late to defeat the visiting Sacramento Kings by a final score of 113-104.
This was a weird game, and seemed to be equal parts fun to watch yet at times sloppy to an astonishing degree. Both teams shot free throws like they weren’t supposed to make them, combining to shoot just 30-56 (54.5 percent) on the night.
The Wolves continued their season-long trend of playing both up and down to their competition. After fighting what might be the best team in NBA history to the final minute just two nights ago, the Wolves struggled to pull away from a clearly inferior DeMarcus Cousins-less Sacramento Kings squad.
The Kings led by one point after the first quarter and the Wolves led by two at halftime. Both Karl-Anthony Towns and Ricky Rubio got into early foul trouble, meaning that the Wolves’ rotation had to be pieced together more than usual.
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The third quarter saw more foul trouble for Rubio, who picked up his fourth foul before the midway point in the frame. After Jones entered the game, the Wolves stretched the lead out to double digits, but a sudden 13-5 run from the Kings early in the fourth quarter whittled it down to just a single possession.
As the Wolves’ starters reentered, however, they were able to slowly but surely pull away down the stretch. Towns was called for his fifth foul with 4:39 remaining in the game and Minnesota only up by six points, but the Timberwolves went on a nice run to stretch the lead into double digits as the time left on the clock ticked below three minutes.
Overall, it was frustrating to see the Wolves allow the Kings back in the game late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, but good to see the home team pull away in the final minutes without having to seat it out.
Tweets of the Night
Karl Anthony Towns goes coast 2 coast. He's a 7 footer https://t.co/WPXXDm2Ycy
— StreetHistory Videos (@streethistory) March 24, 2016
Star of the Night
Andrew Wiggins -“ 23 points (10-15 FG, 3-6 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, zero turnovers
TheWolves had a few players have solid all-around games, but Wiggins was consistent and exactly what he needs to be night-in and night-out.
He was efficient, minus joining the rest of the players on the floor in having a rather sketchy night at the free throw line. Wiggins also grabbed a couple of tough rebounds and had his improved court vision on display.
Notable Timberwolves Lines
Karl-Anthony Towns – 26 points (11-17 FG, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, 3 turnovers
Ricky Rubio – 7 points (2-7 FG, 1-3 3P, 2-2 FT), 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 turnovers
Zach LaVine – 23 points (7-12 FG, 4-7 3P, 5-10 FT), 4 assists, 6 turnovers
Who’s Next?
The Wolves will head east to take on old friend (friend?) Randy Wittman‘s Washington Wizards at 6:00 p.m. Central Time on Friday evening.
Next: Ricky Rubio's Improved Shooting Stroke
This weekend will also bring the final back-to-back of the Timberwolves season, with a home game against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. Good riddance, back-to-backs.