Wolves sign a perfect robbery against Spurs!

The first half goes completely in favor Spurs (55-42) and this is summed up by the factor corresponding to the name Victor Vembanyama. During the twelve minutes he played, his team inflicted +21 on Timberwolveslimiting them to only 18% of addresses. On the other hand, in the twelve minutes he didn’t play, the Wolves dominated the Texans by 8 points, shooting a career-high 60%. Day and night.

A big margin, which in any case allows the visitors to start the period 16-0 (a new franchise record) and finish it 19-7. Victor Wembanyama (16 points, 6 rebounds) is enjoying the racket of Rudy Gobert, despite the mistakes, while Anthony Edwards (12 points) is doing his best, on the contrary, to limit the damage to the result.

After the break, the trend was confirmed: with “Wembie” Saint Anthony do not box in the same category as Minnesota. The Frenchman, with the help of three-pointers from Julian Champagne, restores the lead to twenty and he has to return to his place for Mika Norrie’s players (because Chris Finch is ill) to return somewhat. Keldon Johnson, active from the bench, takes care to maintain a comfortable gap, in response to Naz Reed or Bones Hyland, inspired from both sides (85-71).

The noose tightens around the Spurs even more, pushed by the defensive intensity of their opponents and deprived of a basket for more than seven minutes, accumulating turnovers as a bonus. More energetic, the Timberwolves then finished to equalize, all in a charged atmosphere, and then for the first time in the match, thanks to Anthony Edwards.

“Ant Man” (23 points) who likes these situations on the edge of the knife and who ultimately has the last word: his “runner”, 17 seconds from the end, the Texans will not return! Victor Wembanyama (29 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) was unable to make it in the mid-range, as he was closely held by Julius Randle, Luke Cornett missed the tap, and De’Aaron Fox also did not find a foul from long range.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Minnesota’s Unexpected Awakening. The Timberwolves have come a long way: they only led for a minute and a half at home, relying on Anthony Edwards’ winner to overcome a formidable Spurs team. Trailing by 19 points in the third quarter and still down -14 in the fourth, they gradually recovered by taking advantage of minutes without Victor Wembanyama, while counting on their soldiers Donte DiVincenzo, Naz Reed, Jaden McDaniels, Bones Hyland and Julius Randle to turn the tide, defensively and defensively. Before Edwards folded the case, then.

The problem long called “Wemby”. Spurs’ hero in Boston the day before, Victor Wembanyama failed to do the same this time in Minneapolis. Still limited in his minutes, but in the box, he was attractive for three quarters, as he was present during every “run” of the Texans. However, as soon as he rested, his team took off and the Frenchman, like his teammates, suffered the physical and defensive intensity of the Timberwolves in the last act. A frustrating result, even if he had (and missed) a match point in the dying seconds.

Impending suspension for Rudy Gobert. A bad night for Rudy Gobert, who was generally dominated by Victor Vembanjame in their France-France duel, while his substitute Naz Reid made a more positive contribution. So much so that in the fourth quarter his frustration turned into a Flagrant I which the referees whistled. The fact that Gobert will miss Minnesota’s next game in Milwaukee, as he now has five flagrant fouls this season. So as soon as he gets a new one, he will automatically get a two match suspension.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.