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Minnesota Timberwolves: Player grades vs. Celtics, Rockets, and Hornets

By Trey Flynn

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 23: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves has the ball against James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. 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. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Timberwolves’ player grades against the Houston Rockets

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Houston Rockets 103-91 in an epic showdown at home.

This game was sort of a “revenge” battle for the Wolves, as they hope to make the playoffs this year and knock Houston out of the standings (which somehow, is an actual possibility). Because of Chris Paul having such a terrible start to his second season in a Rockets uniform, this confident bunch hasn’t figured out their chemistry yet this season.

Even with the incredible 53 points from MVP James Harden and big man Clint Capela, it still wasn’t enough to come close to beating the Wolves. Thanks to the likes of Eric Gordon and Chris Paul wearing invisibility cloaks on the court, the Wolves’ pulled the win out with ease.

As for player grades in wins, lets start top to bottom:

Andrew Wiggins: A-

The starting lineup for the Wolves’ against the Houston Rockets totaled for 82 points, 37 rebounds, 16 assists, 8 steals, and 6 blocks.

But who lead the wolf pack? Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins finished the game with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. His all-around game led to the Wolves’ finishing off the Rockets with ease, plus his great defensive play that didn’t account for on his defensive stat sheet (shout out Jeff Teague, too).

Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t get the top spot because he literally let Clint Capela have one of the best games of his career, regardless of Towns’ big numbers.

Robert Covington: B+

Robert Covington has been such a beast on both sides of the court since the Jimmy Butler trade that I may or may not have one of his jersey’s on the way to my mailbox in the next few days.

RoCo led the team in minutes (38) and had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

His all-around performance was only topped by Wiggins, and his defense was intense enough that he had Chris Paul in circles on switches and pick and rolls. Sometimes RoCo’s offense can get lost in translation, he led both teams in true shooting with a 74.2 percent clip.

Derrick Rose: C

After I just spent a paragraph lauded the great Derrick Rose in the past slide, he comes up with a goose egg in this game against the Rockets. It was almost as if he took a game off offensively and focused on staying put on defense, as he was third on the team in defensive real plus minus.

Rose was 0/4 from the field, but finished the game with 5 assists and 3 rebounds. If your a Wolves’ fan and this game frustrated you because you think Rose is overrated, just like at Tyus Jones and his game log this season, as he essentially averages these numbers per game – for better or worse.

Ultimately, Rose deserved the night off and I’m not going to kill him as the lowest on the totem poll for a solid double digit win against the former No. 1 seeded Rockets.

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