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Timberwolves hold off Spurs, win third straight behind Donte DiVincenzo and Rudy Gobert
Timberwolves Secure Third Straight Win in Thrilling Victory Over Spurs
The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their modest winning streak, securing their third consecutive victory in a back-and-forth game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
Despite a rocky start, the Wolves managed to pull off a nail-biting win. They fell behind by 10 points in the first quarter, but the bench unit, featuring Naz Reid, Dante DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Josh Minott along with Julius Randle, turned the tide. This lineup’s ability to push the pace and score both at the rim and from beyond the arc proved crucial in erasing the deficit.
Bench Brilliance and Defensive Dominance
The second quarter saw a remarkable turnaround for the Wolves as they outscored the Spurs, 32-12. The bench unit’s energy and versatility were on full display, with their transition offense and three-point shooting creating problems for the Spurs’ defense. This surge helped the Wolves build a 12-point lead by halftime.
Rudy Gobert’s defensive prowess was particularly noteworthy, especially against Victor Wembanyama. Gobert’s ability to roam off less threatening offensive players — namely, Jeremy Sochan — and contest shots in the paint disrupted the Spurs’ offensive flow. This defensive strategy, coupled with Julius Randle’s physical defense on Wembanyama, made life difficult for the Spurs’ young star.
Clutch Performance Seals the Deal for the Timberwolves
The game remained tight throughout the second half, with the Spurs rallying to tie the score going into the fourth quarter. Despite falling behind by eight points in the final period, the Wolves showed composure and executed well down the stretch.
Key contributions came from various players late in the fourth quarter. Jaden McDaniels provided a crucial putback slam, while Anthony Edwards, despite struggling for most of the game, made important plays in the closing minutes. The team’s collective effort on the final defensive possession, forcing a contested three-point attempt from Jeremy Sochan, ultimately secured the victory.
Dante DiVincenzo emerged as the standout performer, leading the team with 26 points and shooting an impressive 5-of-10 from three-point range. His ability to push the pace and knock down catch-and-shoot threes was instrumental in the Wolves’ success.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ victory over the Spurs, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
• Rudy Gobert’s dominant rebounding performance
• Anthony Edwards’ uncharacteristic struggles and late-game impact
• The Timberwolves’ three-point shooting woes and areas for improvement
Dec 21, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a question during a post game interview after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. | Ed Szczepanski/Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown was fired on his way to meet his team at the airport, Anthony Edwards was fined again — this time a cool $100k — for profanity, Amen Thompson picked Tyler Herro up and skipped him like a stone over the hardwood floor, the Suns and Mavs got into it too, and D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Nets (again) in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. It was a busy weekend in the NBA.
But let’s not focus on the chaos. Let’s instead look to a milestone within the milieu of the NBA’s theatrics, one that’s sat looming, casting a long shadow over the league for years now and especially over LeBron James, who turns 40 today.
James is a rare athlete in many ways. He’s been dominant in every decade of his career — and it’s rare enough to pluralize “decade” when discussing the length of an athlete’s career — and at one point was the greatest athlete on the planet. He’s won NBA titles, Olympic gold medals, has played a huge role in furthering athlete autonomy and reshaping the public’s perception of what an athlete can do and be off the court (or field, rink, etc.) in terms of political and social awareness and advocacy. He’s the first ever athlete to play alongside his son at a professional level and he’s advanced, even introduced, the concept of recovery and physical and mental longevity for an athlete.
He’s also still capable of forcefully taking your breath away with a rousing block, dunk, and the ability to toss his team on his back and take control of the game — he’s still averaging 23.5 points, 9 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game.
James’ rarest attribute though is something of a double-edged sword: his longevity. The quality of longevity, pure staying power, James has maintained throughout his career is the kind of consistency we just don’t see in sports yet he’s made it feel routine, totally normal.
The gift of this for basketball fans has been having James as both a metronome and a backdrop for over 20 seasons. Other players have taken what he’s done and made their own improvisations, but he’s the rhythm that drives the game like he’s the mountain set at the horizon, offering a perennial sense of direction. What happens when these two constant factors aren’t there anymore?
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
Replay The Timberwolves held on for a nail-biting victory against the Spurs, securing their third straight win. Watch the highlights to relive the intense moments and key plays. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Anthony Edwards has been fined $100K for using profane language during a postgame interview after the Timberwolves’ win over the Rockets. Details on the incident are available here. (Sports Illustrated)
Opponent In their recent matchup, the Timberwolves faced off against the Spurs in an intense game featuring Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama. Read the full recap here. (Canis Hoopus)
Biz Anthony Edwards continues to face substantial fines for using profane language in postgame interviews. This pattern of behavior has financial implications for the Timberwolves star. (CBS Sports)
Celebrate 40 great moments for LeBron James on his 40th birthday. (NBA.com)
Milestone By the numbers: a statistical look at NBA milestones as LeBron James turns 40. (TSN)
Biz A look inside Mike Brown’s final days with the Sacramento Kings. (The Athletic)
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Implications Of The Lakers & Nets Trade
Dec 28, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball against Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The NBA trade market is heating up, and the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have made the first significant move of the season. In a surprising turn of events, D’Angelo Russell is heading back to Brooklyn, while Dorian Finney-Smith makes his way to Los Angeles.
The trade details are as follows:
Brooklyn receives:
D’Angelo Russell
Maxwell Lewis (2023 second-round pick)
Three second-round picks
Los Angeles receives:
Dorian Finney-Smith
Shake Milton
This move has significant implications for both teams and fantasy basketball managers alike. For Brooklyn, Russell’s return could shake up their backcourt rotation. With Cam Thomas also returning from injury, the Nets suddenly have an abundance of scoring guards. While this might lead to some exciting offensive performances, it could also create a defensive nightmare for Brooklyn.
Noah Clowney’s value may see an uptick with Finney-Smith’s departure. The rookie has shown flashes of potential in recent games, and this trade could open up more consistent minutes for him. However, it’s important to temper expectations, as the Nets’ rotation remains fluid.
Ben Simmons’ role is now in question. With Russell taking over primary ball-handling duties, Simmons might see a reduction in minutes and usage. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely, as Simmons could become a potential drop candidate if his playing time dips significantly.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Wolves podcasts.
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