Timberwolves-Suns: 5 takeaways from Wolves' dominant Game 2 win
MINNEAPOLIS — No Timberwolves team in 20 years has ever gotten off to a 2-0 start in a playoff series. This is ancient history and the Wolves have only won three series between 2004 and now.
More interesting may be the fact that by beating Phoenix in Games 1 and 2 of their Western Conference first-round matchup, the Wolves outscored the Suns by 37 points. That's the most since last spring, when Denver swept Minnesota by 38 in a series, with the eventual NBA champions winning in five.
It's too early to know what significance this turnaround might have in the coming weeks, but here are five takeaways from the Wolves' 105-93 victory at Target Center on Tuesday:
1. Minnesota's defense did what stars do.
This is the time of year when the NBA's greatest players build their reputations and make their fortunes. They "step up" in the postseason and do whatever it takes to win. And it's a fact that this Timberwolves team has had its defense all season.
Holding Phoenix to 95 points in Game 1 was just an appetizer. The Wolves cut it to 93 in Game 2, the first time the Suns have been held to fewer than 100 in consecutive games since camp broke in October. He failed to reach triple digits just five times all season but didn't sniff it in two attempts this week.
For context, the Wolves ranked first in defensive efficiency in 2023-24 at 108.4 points allowed per 100 possessions. Boston was second at 108.6, a 2.2-point difference that equaled Boston's lead over the 10th-ranked Houston Rockets.
The Suns (116.8) rank 10th offensively, but Minnesota's defense has been solid so far. Their power-scoring trio — Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal — averaged 72.4 points during the season, but have scored just 64 and 52 so far. He was held to 18-for-45 (40%) on six field goals each Tuesday.
Phoenix has reached 30 points in just one of eight quarters. Meanwhile, it has turned the ball over 36 times, holding Minnesota to 54 points.
Suns coach Frank Vogel, asked what he thought of his team's punishment, could have borrowed an old line from NFL Tampa Bay coach John McKay and said, "I'm all for it."
But credit Minnesota. Rising superstar Anthony Edwards has grabbed most of the attention individually, but it was the stingy ensemble that won the night.
"From the first minute of the game our urgency level was at an all-time high," said Rudy Gobert, the tentpole of Minnesota's defense. "We know when we change that, we can be a unique defensive team."
2. McDaniels seizes his moment.
Edwards drew a crowd of Suns defenders from start to finish, shooting 3-for-12 and scoring seven of his 15 points from the foul line. Karl-Anthony Towns ran into foul trouble, his heavy defensive load (particularly guarding Durant) paid the price, and sat all but eight minutes of the first half.
Backups Naz Reid and Niquel Alexander-Walker were scoring at half their pace from Game 1. That opened the door for someone, and Jaden McDaniels Euro stepped into it.
He scored 25 points with eight rebounds, both shy of his season highs, and shot 10-for-17 over 41 minutes. At 6-foot-9 and 185 pounds, the fourth-year wing has the reach, length and lateral speed to tease scorers of all shapes and sizes, with Booker and Durant often trying to shake him off.
The Wolves coaching staff wants McDaniels to be more aggressive at the basket and on the glass. He could also get lost in a turnover of ball-dominant teammates, but the opportunity was missed.
McDaniels, you may recall, did not play in the last postseason. He missed Minnesota's series against Denver with a broken hand, the result of punching a wall near the end of the regular season. Teammate Mike Conley talked about how badly he missed him and he missed him against the Nuggets.
"Yeah, he won't tell you, but I know it really stung him a little bit because it was more self-inflicted than anything else," the veteran point guard said. “We knew with him we were a complete team, there was an opportunity to put some pressure on whoever we were going to play, so I think that's kind of the setup for this year. I think he came in with a different mindset.
3. Booker is ready for flight home.
Booker averaged over 27 points in his first postseason action in 2021, helping the Suns reach the Finals. Last spring he was even more special at 33.7 ppg, hitting 50 percent of his 3-pointers.
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