5 Standout statistics from Minnesota's Game 1 win
By Austin McGee
4. Naz Reid's 14 fourth-quarter points
Surprise, the catalyst of Minnesota's late-game run is no other than Naz Reid. The fifth-year pro erupted for 14 points in the fourth quarter. He connected on 6-of-7 field goals in the final frame and went on a 10-4 run by himself.
Having Reid is a luxury. The Timberwolves already roster one of the league's best frontcourt pairings in Towns and Gobert. Reid filling in for one of the starting bigs allows for a dynamic big to be on the court at all times.
In the fourth quarter, Reid played alongside both Towns and Gobert. Playing next to Towns, the Sixth Man of the Year scored four points and dished out one assist. Reid grabbed two boards and scored 10 points in his minutes alongside Gobert.
What makes the 24-year-old's performance so special is that he entered the fourth quarter with only two points and a minus-11 net rating. Reid's play drastically altered the Wolves' outcome. This quarter comes after a subpar first-round performance against the Phoenix Suns.
In four games against Phoenix, Reid averaged 9.5 points and shot 41.4 percent from the floor. In nine minutes of fourth-quarter action, Reid outscored his highest-scoring output in round one. If Reid's fourth-quarter heroics spill into the following games, Wolves fans are in for a treat.