The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Mike Conley and Naz Reid, won 104-91 against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Friday’s NBA action, enhancing their playoff positioning in the Western Conference.
“We’ve been able to get the ball going,” Conley said. “It’s been humming around the horn, and everybody’s getting good looks.”
Despite efforts from Darius Garland and Caris LeVert, the Cavaliers faced their fifth loss in seven games amidst challenges.
“The ball got sticky for us in the second half,” LeVert said. “It was tough to score against their defense.”
Reid celebrated with a beach towel giveaway and shined in his return to the lineup after exiting the concussion protocol, contributing significantly to the victory. Gobert’s return from a rib injury also bolstered the Timberwolves’ performance.
“That’s something that you dream about, definitely at this level in the NBA,” Reid said. “That’s love.”
The Timberwolves’ strategy, missing Karl-Anthony Towns due to injury, showcased their depth and shooting prowess, especially from beyond the arc. Jordan McLaughlin‘s exceptional performance was a highlight of the evening. “J-Mac is playing otherworldly right now,” coach Chris Finch said.
Despite a promising start and a strong performance earlier in the season, the Cavaliers struggled with injuries and could not maintain their momentum against the Timberwolves’ defense.
“We just got stagnant. There wasn’t a lot of movement,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Give them credit for being good defensively, but I just think we weren’t as attack-minded to get to the paint.”
As the Timberwolves keep pace in the tight Western Conference playoff race, both teams look ahead to their next games, with the Cavaliers visiting Miami and the Timberwolves hosting Golden State.
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