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Turnovers, transition defense haunt Minnesota Timberwolves in loss to Mavericks
Timberwolves’ Turnover Troubles and Defensive Dilemmas
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks faced off in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. Despite having a rest advantage, it resulted in a tough loss for the Wolves that highlighted several areas needing improvement, namely, turnovers and transition defense, plus some other defensive lapses and plenty of missed free throws.
Turnovers and Transition Defense
The Timberwolves entered the game with two days of rest, yet they faltered in areas typically expected of a fatigued team against a team that played in Dallas the night prior. The most glaring issue was the turnover count, with Minnesota committing 20 turnovers compared to the Mavs’ nine. This disparity allowed the Mavericks to capitalize, scoring 25 points off turnovers, while the Timberwolves managed only five points from Dallas’ mistakes.
Transition defense was another critical area where the Timberwolves fell short. The Mavericks exploited Minnesota’s defensive lapses, scoring 20 fast break points. The Timberwolves’ inability to effectively match up in transition and secondary break situations allowed Dallas to maintain offensive momentum. Despite these challenges, the Timberwolves managed to out-shoot the Mavericks in several key areas, including 3-pointers and free throws, but the turnovers and defensive lapses overshadowed these positives.
Anthony Edwards’ Explosive Start
Anthony Edwards delivered a standout performance, scoring 24 points in the first quarter alone, setting a career-high for points in a quarter. His early offensive explosion was a bright spot for the Timberwolves, showcasing his ability to dominate from beyond the arc and in the paint. Edwards finished the game with 37 points, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the team’s collective struggles as he was largely quiet during the middle stages of the contest.
Again, the Timberwolves’ shooting efficiency was notable; the Wolves made more threes and free throws than the Mavericks. They also shot a higher percentage from the field and had more rebounds and assists. However, these statistical advantages were negated by the turnover issues and defensive breakdowns.
Defensive Adjustments Needed
The Timberwolves’ defense showed improvement in the fourth quarter, but it was too late to change the game’s outcome. The early and middle portions of the game were marred by poor perimeter defense, allowing Dallas to exploit mismatches and score easily. The Timberwolves’ defensive rotations and communication need improvement to prevent similar issues in future games.
Despite the loss, there were positive takeaways, such as the team’s ball movement and shot selection. The Timberwolves demonstrated their offensive potential, but consistency and discipline are crucial to translating these strengths into victories.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ performance and strategies, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
- Analysis of Julius Randle’s performance and impact on the game
- Breakdown of the Timberwolves’ defensive strategies against Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving
- Discussion on the Timberwolves’ rotation and lineup adjustments
- Examination of the Timberwolves’ shooting efficiency and offensive execution
San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay (22) drives to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center|Photo by Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
You forget how high he could get. You shouldn’t, because he was in the 2008 Dunk Contest, catching mid-air bounces off the side of the stanchion from teammate (Grizzlies) Kyle Lowry and swinging the ball under the backboard, switching it between left and right hand, and windmilling it in on the first try. He got up there in regular games too, peppering his play with one-handed tomahawk dunks, slams with two hands out, true and benevolent to the basket like he was giving communion. He made many a reverse layup, his body understanding what to do when it got airborne; he pogoed up to meet lobs and erratic passes from teammates to redirect the ball deftly and from above into the basket, usually landing and turning coolly to walk lightly down the floor, mouthguard dangling.
Rudy Gay announced his retirement yesterday, a surprise to me. The Warriors waved him at the end of September and though there was no chatter after that to where he might go, the athletes who quietly persist you come to believe will go on quietly persisting.
Growing up in Baltimore, Gay was an early phenom. On the local competitive circuit he came up against Carmelo Anthony — three years his senior — and Lowry as early as middle school. Gay was named an All-American and so closely contested for by UConn and the University of Maryland that once he declared for UConn, the NCAA adopted a new scheduling rule in the wake of Connecticut paying $25,000 to schedule a game against a Baltimore AAU team with some of Gay’s former teammates.
The fanfare followed Gay through two years of college and he admits he came into the league cocky (to be fair, Gay was third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting, after Brandon Roy and Andrea Bargnani, both who he outlasted). It was Damon Stoudamire, then with the Grizzlies, who told him to watch and learn. The alchemy of bravado in basketball is a tricky thing because on one hand it’s wholly necessary as a component for success, in a league full of similarly if not more gifted and talented people. On the other, much like winning a championship, timing is everything.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The Wolves have had an up and down start to the 2024-25 season. One thing they’re still trying to figure out? Their defense. (The Athletic)
Roster Meanwhile, No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham has yet to play a regular-season minute for the team. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Basketball Impact Of The Warriors Lineup Changes
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) in the second quarter at the Chase Center.
|Photo by Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The NBA action on Tuesday brought significant developments that could impact fantasy basketball strategies. Here’s a detailed look at the major lineup changes, injury updates, and standout performances.
Atlanta Hawks’ Injury Crisis
The Hawks are in a tough spot with a slew of injuries affecting their guard rotation. Bogdan Bogdanovic is out for at least four weeks due to hamstring surgery, while Vít Krejčí and Dyson Daniels are also sidelined with injuries. This leaves Trae Young as the primary guard, with De’Andre Hunter and Zaccharie Risachere potentially stepping into unfamiliar roles. Fantasy managers should consider dropping Bogdanovic unless they have an injured reserve spot.
Kyle Kuzma’s Groin Strain
Kyle Kuzma’s injury situation with the Washington Wizards is concerning. Initially thought to be minor, the groin strain could sideline him for several weeks. This opens up opportunities for players like Bilal Coulibaly and Corey Kispert to see increased minutes and production. Keep an eye on these players as potential pickups in your fantasy league.
Click the button below to get the fantasy impacts of the Jazz’s lineup shakeup and a new potential Warriors star.
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