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Minnesota Timberwolves: 4 keys to unlocking the 4th quarter

By Reed Redmond

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to a play during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 20, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 20: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to a play during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 20, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SHENZHEN, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Jimmy Butler #23, Jamal Crawford #11 and Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Jimmy Butler #23, Jamal Crawford #11 and Taj Gibson #67 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Universidade Center on October 5, 2017 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /

Key #1: Ride the hot hand.

Man, it’s been an up-and-down week.

With so much scoring power on the offensive end, different players are going to thrive down the stretch against different matchups. Close games come down to big plays, and it’s important to recognize who is stepping up on a given night.

Against the Utah Jazz on October 20th, Jamal Crawford had the hot hand, so his teammates got him the ball. In return, Crawford made a couple big plays down the stretch, sinking a pair of late 3-pointers to put the Wolves ahead.

When Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony flexed their muscles in the final minutes of Sunday’s game, Andrew Wiggins stepped up in a big way. Wiggins scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter. If anyone was going to hit a game-winner on Sunday, it was going to be him.

Whether it’s one of the Big Three or not, the Wolves need to continue to get the ball to whoever has the hot hand in the fourth quarter.

Next: Ranking the Timberwolves roster

Let’s keep it going.

The Wolves still have a few things left to iron out in the fourth quarter, but we’ve seen them pull out two wins that last year’s team would have given away. I can’t wait to see what else they can do in the fourth quarter this year.

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