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Magic beat Minnesota Timberwolves 97-96: Instant Reactions

By Dylan Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 20: D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter of the game at Target Center on January 20, 2021 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 (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 20: D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends against Cole Anthony #50 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter of the game at Target Center on January 20, 2021 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 (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Orlando Magic on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Cole Anthony on Wednesday night.

38. 96. 86. Final. 97

The Minnesota Timberwolves have to make a change. While this loss may not be attributed to the coach entirely, Ryan Saunders has had nothing short of a disastrous start to the 2020-21 campaign.

Saunders’s rotations are inefficient, and he fails to make the adjustments that are necessary in order to win games. The Timberwolves are 1-5 while leading in the fourth quarter – and that is more than unacceptable.

While, yes, the Timberwolves have been missing their best player for the majority of the season, that does not excuse the coaching malpractice that has transpired over the first 13 games.

It’s the simple things – like not calling a timeout to avoid one of your only poor free-throw shooters from taking two shots in the final 30-seconds of a one-possession game. Or failing to maximize many of the most talented players on the roster, despite showing a willingness to in the past.

More specifically to the Magic-Wolves game tonight, the team blew an eight-point lead with less than three minutes left. Minnesota had greater than a 75-percent chance to win the game for more than two and a half quarters of basketball.

While Ryan Saunders is, in all likelihood, going to continue to be the Timberwolves’ coach for the foreseeable future, he is absolutely on the hot seat following his catastrophic start this season. That’s not to say that anyone in the past was necessarily the answer, but it does not look like that particular answer is currently on the payroll at the moment.

Next. Malik Beasley is worth the money. dark

Looking forward, the Timberwolves go up against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, January 22nd, at 7:00 PM CT. The Hawks, 7-7, are currently sitting in the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Minnesota is in last place in the Western Conference with a 3-10 record.

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