Minnesota Timberwolves: Takeaways from win over Philadelphia 76ers

Timberwolves find their moments late

Despite the result, not a lot went right for the Wolves down the stretch of this game.

Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out with 18 seconds left in regulation. Anthony Edwards couldn’t find a rhythm after the first quarter, finishing with 19 points on 21 shots. The Wolves also appeared frustrated by the calls received by Embiid, who shot 21 free throws by himself to Minnesota’s 16.

The Wolves allowed a tip-in off a free throw to tie the game with seconds left in the first overtime and repeatedly turned the ball over at horrible moments. And yet, they kept their focus and capitalized on their opportunities. Russell deserves most of the credit for that, and Prince warrants praise for what was truly a difficult layup over Embiid, but other guys chipped in where needed.

For example, Edwards could have attacked Embiid in transition toward the end of regulation, but he smartly passed it out and relocated for a wide-open triple to put the Wolves up two. He also capped the night by harassing Embiid and blocking his jumper on the game’s final shot.

Naz Reid struggled to handle Embiid’s size on both ends but he hit a few crucial shots in the overtime periods in relief of Towns, including the hook over Embiid right before the game-winner. Jarred Vanderbilt had a few ugly offensive moments but provided his typical energy before fouling out.

This was a performance in which Minnesota showed it can win even when things don’t go its way. That’s a huge development for a team that’s still learning how to sustain success in the NBA.