Kings vs wolves end result: Minnesota is losing another close game

On By Littum

Since last time Minnesota Timberwolves Played basketball, the NBA world has been thrown upside down with Dallas Mavericks Trade Luka Dončić to Los Angeles Lakers For Anthony Davis, among other pieces.

The news overshadowed that Wolves lose 105-103 to League worst Washington Wizards On their home floor and snapped both Minnesota’s five-game-winning row and Washington’s 16-game losing row. With Anthony Edwards and Naz Reid back in the lineup, the Wolves had the chance to get back in the victory column against Sacramento Kings on Monday night.

On Sunday the kings made a great deal of trade with their own and traded their long -time franchisee de’aaron fox to San Antonio Spurs to Zach avalanche and more draft elections. The trade left Kings Shorthanded at least one game as the deal was not officially ended before Monday.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch talked before the game about what it’s like for players playing in a game after a big deal is made and what he expected to see from Kings in the game.

“We’ve seen guys play much better as soon as the trade deadline comes and goes. We have seen teams, as I said, kind of fog lifts a little, and there is some clarity. There is strength in knowing, okay it is the one we got, and now we are moving forward, whether you have acquired or lost players during the trade period. I expect a clear focus, clear mind from the kings tonight. “

The game started just as Finch lay out when Kings started the game strongly, making 13 of their first 19 shots, good for 38 first quarter, including six of their first seven attempts from Beyond the Arc.

No team found great success with the defense in the first quarter when Wolves scored 34 points of their own with Reid, scoring 16 points including four 3-Pointers.

Wolves defensive matches continued into the second quarter, where Sacramento was apparently able to score after the whole. In the first half, Kings scored or got either their own rebound of 41 of their 58 first half.

The wolves continued to make the right plays to get open look, but struggled to make their open 3-point look and went 2-11 from deep in the second quarter. The cold stretch allowed the kings to take a 67-59 lead on the way into the second half.

The Timberwolves defense was able to do a much better job in the third quarter, but they were unable to take a lead due to continued poor 3-point shooting. The wolves went 1-9 beyond the arch during the quarter, adding a 3-21 stretch from deep dating back to late in the first quarter. Minnesota was able to cut the Sacramento lead to only two points on the way into the fourth quarter.

The game remained close to the whole of it with cards taking the lead early in the fourth quarter. When the game was tied to 95-95 early in the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves violation went into a tail spin, scoring only two over a six-minute stretch, allowing Kings to take a six-point lead. During the stretch, wolves missed nine of their ten shots to go with two revenue.

When the Wolves violation finally woke up late in the fourth quarter, their defense was unable to get the necessary stops to keep them in the game. Kings scored on five equal belongings in the final minutes of the game including three Daggers Demar Derozan.

After playing the bad game, Wolves were eventually able to get the ball back only three points, but after a review of an out-of-bound call, a Domantas Saboni’s free throw sealed the game. Edwards drained a meaningless shot at the buzzer as the wolves fell to Kings 116-114.

Reid was fantastic for Wolves all night and scored 30 points on 12-19 shooting, added four rebounds and three assists. Edwards had an up-and-down game where he scored 21 points on 7-21 shooting, but went without a point in the fourth quarter until the last second of the game. Derozan and Malik Monk combined for 59 points for Kings.

Key takeaway

NBA: Sacramento Kings at Minnesota Timberwolves

Bruce Kluckhohn-Misted Pictures

Timberwolves Defense Underwhelms Again

Just one season removed from having one of the best defenses in the last few years in the NBA, Wolves have all too often looked at their defense as the cause of a loss this season. Tonight was another of these nights when Derozan, Monk and Kings violation were all too often able to get to their spots and hit the kind of shot they would take.

The whole first half of Wolves struggled to stop and wasted a fantastic offensive performance at their own violation. These defensive matches reappeared late in the fourth quarter as they desperately needed to prevent Sacramento from scoring to give themselves a chance to tie or take the lead.

Finch talked after the game about what he saw from the defense as a whole tonight.

“We committed a cardinal win, we got into an up and down scoring affair with a team that really likes to score. We have to do this game about defense and we were unable to do so. We played right next to them most of the game and they had to make shots, and they made shots the whole game as a result. Our defense is not where it should be right now. “

Finch elaborated on what he thinks they need to make it better defensively.

“We were not in them. We did not remove the things they would do. They were able to easily get to their spots. They are all gifted scores and when they do, they are hard to stop. “

This year’s four-time defensive player Rudy Gobert spoke in the dressing room after the game about what he feels should improve with the defense.

“I think we have to have a better start to the game. We put them in a good mood when you start the game and you get a lot of shots and you are comfortable. “

Edwards repeated the mood of starting games slowly defensively, especially during home matches.

“On the road, the effort is there for sure. I don’t know what it’s about being at home. To start with, the effort is not there, but as I said when the game progressed, we find it, but we have to bring it from the jump ball. “

Ant is right that there is something about playing at home that has not gone well for Wolves this season. Minnesota is now 12-12 at Target Center while having a 15-11 record on the road. Defensively, the number of the wolves protects worse at home as they rank ninth in defensive efficiency at home while ranking third when on the road.

Reid was asked in the dressing room about what needs to be changed to improve the defensive end. Like Edwards, Naz pointed to moving their mentality during the game.

“Just change our mindset. I mean, it’s a mindset, I think. Obviously, we’ve done it before, so it’s not as we can’t. So I think it’s just a mindset and just has the mindset to transfer every single game, no matter who we play. “

Coming into the game ranked Wolves’ defense sixth in the NBA in defensive rating. A solid brand, but in the end, the wolves will be closer to what they were last season to avoid games like tonight, with opposite scorers putting them away late in close play.

Up next

Timberwolves remain at home in Target Center with a back-to-back against Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets Wednesday and Thursday. Both games begin at 1 p.m. 19:00 CT, which is released on Fanduel Sports Network North.

Between the two games are NBA trading deadline Thursday. All trades must be completed at. 14:00 ct.

Game High Points