The Minnesota Timberwolves held on to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in their Las Vegas Summer League opener.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a pair of members of their rotation from last year as the focal point of their Summer League entry. Both Jaden McDaniels and Jaylen Nowell played well, but the biggest takeaway from the opener is just how good the Wolves’ two young point guards played on the defensive end of the floor.
McKinley Wright IV stood out to Wolves brass a the draft combine in Chicago earlier in the Summer because of his defense. It was his calling years over four years a the University of Colorado, and he came to play against his former high school rival and fellow Minnesota native Tre Jones on Monday night.
Exhibit 10 contract signee Isaiah Miller brought an edge on defense as well, with active hands and feet and a desire to fight through traffic and stick to his man.
It’s the exact defensive effort that the Wolves have too often been missing, and both Wright and Miller brought it against the Spurs.
As for the game itself, the Wolves built a double-digit lead prior to halftime but the Spurs came all the way back, taking a few one-possession leads in the fourth quarter. But two-way player Nathan Knight grabbed a critical offensive rebound and scored the go-ahead bucket on the Wolves’ final possession.
After a San Antonio timeout, Knight disrupted the Spurs’ action by deflecting a pass, and Wright forced Jones into an impossible, contested 3-pointer that clanged off the rim at the buzzer as the Wolves held on to win.
Minnesota Timberwolves Player Grades
Other notable Minnesota Timberwolves performances
Jared Brownridge, a long-time G Leaguer whom yours truly called out as a fringe player to watch in Las Vegas, had a nice game. Brownridge scored eight points in 12 minutes, including draining a pair of 3-poin atttempts.
Former Indiana Pacers two-way player Brian Bowen II started but did not play well. He didn’t make a single shot from the field in 22 minutes and looked uncomfortable offensively.
Up next for the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Summer Wolves have the next two days off before taking on the Chicago Bulls at 3 p.m. CT on Thursday. The game will be televised on NBA TV.