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Those plucky Minnesota Timberwolves are at it again, beating the favored San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in Game One of the Western Conference second round series last night.
With former Illini Ayo Dosunmu out with a calf injury, Terrence Shannon Jr. started for the second straight playoff game, scoring 16 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 1 assist in 35 minutes of action. Ditching the three-point shot, Shannon got to the free throw line 8 times, making 6 of his freebies. He also did not commit a turnover!
Shannon was part of a balanced Minnesota offense that saw superstar Anthony Edwards return from his left knee injury and score 18 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Edwards hit two big shots late to propel the Wolves to the victory.
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Mike Conley Jr. added 16, 12 and 12 points, respectively.
The Timberwolves survived a triple double from Victor Wembanyama, who had 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks in 40 minutes. The Spurs were led by rookie Dylan Harper's 18 points off the bench. Following a missed jumper by Randle, San Antonio had a chance to win the game at the buzzer but forward Julian Champaignie's three hit front iron.
Despite losing three guards in Edwards, Donte DiVicenzo and Dosunmu during the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves still won in six games, with Shannon starting and scoring 25 points in the finale.
Amazingly, Shannon did not even play in the first three games of the Denver series. Suddenly, he is a major component of a Minnesota team that looks dangerous with Edwards back.
It will be interesting to see if Minnesota will keep Edwards coming off the bench or insert him into the starting lineup for either Shannon or Conley.
Whatever the case, can Minnesota keep this unlikely story going against San Antonio after stealing Game One tonight?
Game Two tips off Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. Central Time.
With former Illini Ayo Dosunmu out with a calf injury, Terrence Shannon Jr. started for the second straight playoff game, scoring 16 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 1 assist in 35 minutes of action. Ditching the three-point shot, Shannon got to the free throw line 8 times, making 6 of his freebies. He also did not commit a turnover!
Shannon was part of a balanced Minnesota offense that saw superstar Anthony Edwards return from his left knee injury and score 18 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Edwards hit two big shots late to propel the Wolves to the victory.
Julius Randle led Minnesota with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Mike Conley Jr. added 16, 12 and 12 points, respectively.
The Timberwolves survived a triple double from Victor Wembanyama, who had 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks in 40 minutes. The Spurs were led by rookie Dylan Harper's 18 points off the bench. Following a missed jumper by Randle, San Antonio had a chance to win the game at the buzzer but forward Julian Champaignie's three hit front iron.
Despite losing three guards in Edwards, Donte DiVicenzo and Dosunmu during the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves still won in six games, with Shannon starting and scoring 25 points in the finale.
Amazingly, Shannon did not even play in the first three games of the Denver series. Suddenly, he is a major component of a Minnesota team that looks dangerous with Edwards back.
It will be interesting to see if Minnesota will keep Edwards coming off the bench or insert him into the starting lineup for either Shannon or Conley.
Whatever the case, can Minnesota keep this unlikely story going against San Antonio after stealing Game One tonight?
Game Two tips off Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. Central Time.
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