NBA
Minnesota Timberwolves: Jimmy Butler Leads In Narrow Win Over Lakers
On Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves took on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves have always had a shaky history against LeBron led teams. Either they’ve had blowout wins, or close/blowout losses.
They never seem to know how to close it against James. With Wiggins being out for a third straight game with a thigh contusion, the Timberwolves needed another scorer to compete against James. Both teams came into the game with a record of 2-4 and hoping to turn things around.
Game Recap
The Timberwolves started off the game following the Lakers running, fast pace offense. Going bucket to bucket for most of the quarter, they locked in on James for that first quarter, keeping him scoreless, which for the Timberwolves is an achievement of its own. Timberwolves rookie, Josh Okogie, was doing it all the first quarter with endless hustle, tight defense, and some nice scoring ending the night with a career high in points with 17 to go along with four rebounds and three steals. This would lead to a career game for the rookie in this very young season. By the end of the first the Timberwolves were up 36-32.
Second quarter came around, and the Timberwolves started to slip like they usually do. It’s usually either the second or third quarter that they tend to falter in. Tonight, it was the second. Luckily it didn’t bomb too much. James finally scored his first bucket of the game and that’s when he started to get loose. The Lakers running game was getting to the Timberwolves and sloppy play on their part. With silly turnovers and James and the Lakers getting their groove they took over the lead by half with a score of 66-64.
Both teams started the third a little rusty. Head coach Tom Thibodeau though was doing something not like himself, which was using the bench. Anthony Tolliver and Derrick Rose were helping offensively. Rose by driving in and kicking back out to get one of his seven assists on the night, and Tolliver doing what the Timberwolves signed him for which was for three-point shooting. The Timberwolves though started to lose their control on James that they had in the first half. Brandon Ingram also started to lock in more. Lakers would end up being in the lead at the end of the third 95-92.
Fourth quarter came around and the Timberwolves, especially Butler, went off from distance. Butler shot six to seven from three-point land in the fourth. Contested shots, open shots, off-the dribble, catch-and-shoot Butler was nailing it, ending the night with 32 points. With every three the Timberwolves made, James would almost immediately answer back. Thing is it was only James doing everything in the fourth. The younger Lakers, minus Ingram, were looking a little lost and Walton was using weird lineups at the end that was one of the demise for the Lakers.
Player of the Game
It could go to either Butler or Towns. Butler because his clutch shooting in the 4th or Towns because he put up his best game statistically this season. Towns finished the night with 25 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, and a steal to go with it all. To go along with Butler’s 32 points, he also tacked on 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Honorable mention: Josh Okogie.
Takeaways
This was a solid win for the Timberwolves. Considering of all the drama going around the team this looked like a positive game for them. Having a career game from the rookie, Towns finding his groove, and Butler performing well (raising his trade value), it was primarily an all-around great game. Everyone scored at least once in the game and everyone played at least 15 minutes. The bench once again performed well as a unit and not letting up much while the starters were out.
Stats of the game: the Timberwolves had 12 total blocks as a team and 5 players scoring in double figures.
Looking Ahead
The Timberwolves have a rough stretch of games ahead of them. They have one more home game tomorrow against Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz then they go on four game road trip. Playing four games in six nights against teams like the Warriors, Trailblazers, and Lakers again in Staples Center.
Additionally, this is going to be a very pivotal point for the Timberwolves in this young season. Considering how competitive the Western Conference is, a three-game losing streak could knock you out of playoff contention very early.
Photo credit to Minnesota Timberwolves via Twitter
