The Minnesota Timberwolves must deal with issues in opposition to lowly groups, and they’re going to have one such alternative Wednesday night time after they go to the Charlotte Hornets.
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Minnesota produced a giant fourth quarter on Tuesday in a 126-112 victory in opposition to the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. It was a one-game cease at house following 4 straight street outings, and now it is again on the street for 2 extra video games this week.
For Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, the important thing to the closing stretch of the season might be staying on track. He was involved about his group’s 19 turnovers, which led to 21 factors, in opposition to the 76ers.
“We can’t go back to that type of basketball,” Finch mentioned.
The Timberwolves made 18 pictures from 3-point vary vs. Philadelphia. Seven of the treys got here from reserves Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
DiVincenzo logged 12 factors and eight assists on Tuesday in his fourth recreation since being sidelined for 19 consecutive video games on account of a toe harm.
“I think his shot is going in because we’re finding him for wide-open ones,” Finch mentioned. “He’s just kind of doing everything. … His activity on defense has been great. He’s like in midseason form. You’d never know he had six weeks off.”
Minnesota has gained back-to-back video games following a stretch that included six losses in an eight-game span.
Every of the Timberwolves’ final 5 defeats got here by a single-digit margin.
The Hornets, who’re on a seven-game dropping streak, have not been so aggressive.
“Some games, we come out not ready to play. Sometimes we come out a half not ready to play,” Charlotte guard Nick Smith Jr. mentioned. “We just got to stick to the game plan and continue to play hard. We can’t come out sluggish. We just got to be ready to play and be ready to play defense.”
The Hornets misplaced 119-101 to the visiting Golden State Warriors on Monday regardless of getting 35 factors from Miles Bridges.
Charlotte heart Mark Williams continues to offer stable contributions, similar to his 12-point, 13-rebound effort in opposition to the Warriors.
“Number one, just the consistency of it,” Hornets coach Charles Lee mentioned. “He has put up really good numbers. He has done that throughout the year, but I want to see him consistently at that level. Part of it is his force and his physicality.”
The Hornets, although, are reaching to all types of areas on the depth chart seeking a breakthrough. Rookie Damion Baugh logged 28 minutes off the bench on Monday, and he offered six factors, six assists and a surge of vitality.
“He plays the game with such bounce and pop, and he carries a basketball around with him all the time,” Lee mentioned. “He’s just a guy who loves the game, and you feel his energy and his impact on both ends of the floor.”
Minnesota’s Naz Reid racked up 25 factors when the Timberwolves beat the Hornets 114-93 on Nov. 4 in Minneapolis. LaMelo Ball had 19 factors for Charlotte in that recreation.
The Timberwolves have been just about the identical at house or away. Their street document is 17-15, whereas they’re 17-14 at house.
Each groups is likely to be short-handed within the publish on Wednesday. Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert hasn’t performed since Feb. 12 on account of a decrease again ailment, although he is likely to be able to return.
The Hornets should wait to study the standing of heart Taj Gibson, who wasn’t accessible Monday night time due to sickness. He was listed as possible to face Minnesota.
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