Timberwolves’ Late-Game Struggles: A Breakdown of the Collapse Against the Heat
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Sunday loss to the Miami Heat was a tough pill to swallow. Despite leading for much of the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves faltered in the final moments behind execution failures on both ends of the floor.
Coaching Decisions and Execution Issues
The Timberwolves’ collapse can be attributed to a combination of coaching decisions and execution problems.
On the final defensive possession, Finch opted to substitute Mike Conley for Rudy Gobert with nine seconds left, anticipating a 3-point attempt from the Heat. However, the decision backfired when Nikola Jovic cut backdoor and made a layup over Nickeil Alexander-Walker with no backline rim defense. NAW committed a foul, leading to a 3-point play that gave Miami the lead. In a two-point game, keeping Gobert on the floor might have been the better choice, as his presence could have deterred such an easy basket.
Then, on the Wolves’ final offensive possession, confusion on the inbounds play led to a discombobulated sequence and ultimately, a missed shot from Mike Conley. Finch noted in his postgame press conference that he changed the play at the last second, leading to the execution issues.
There are rotation question marks, too: Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo both significantly outplayed Conley in the game, but neither were on the floor for key moments down the stretch.
Player Performance and Turnovers
This loss certainly isn’t only on the shoulders of Finch; the Timberwolves’ players also had their share of struggles. Anthony Edwards and Conley, in particular, had rough showings.
Edwards forced several ill-advised shots and committed crucial turnovers, while Conley struggled with his shooting, going 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. These mistakes were compounded by a lack of effective rebounding and defensive rotations, allowing the Heat to capitalize on second-chance opportunities.
The team’s turnover issues were glaring, especially in the third quarter. Sloppy passes and poor shot selection allowed Miami to chip away at the lead. The Timberwolves’ inability to execute in the clutch moments ultimately sealed their fate.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots. Alexander-Walker and DiVincenzo provided valuable contributions off the bench, and Naz Reid had some great moments in the third quarter as well. Ultimately, the Timberwolves need to focus on tightening their rotations and improving their late-game execution to avoid similar collapses.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ performance, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
- Analysis of the Timberwolves’ third-quarter surge
- Chris Finch’s post-game accountability and reflections
- The impact of bench players like Nikhil Alexander-Walker and Dante DiVincenzo
- Upcoming matchups and what to expect from the Timberwolves
