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Post by Fapplatte » 24 Jul 2020, 06:41

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Post by Fapplatte » 24 Jul 2020, 19:54

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2019-20 Playoffs: Semifinals Review:
nba.com/timberwolves/wolvesbeat | May XXth, 2020

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MINNEAPOLIS -- As the Minnesota Timberwolves await the beginning of their Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, we take a look and review how the other series' in the Semifinals finished. Let's check the both Conferences:


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Image (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Los Angeles Clippers Image

Game 1 --- LAC @ LAL [1-0] ---Lakers’ poor first quarter performance leads to blowout loss: The Los Angeles Lakers scored just 7 points in the first quarter, which set up a disappointing 100-75 loss to rival Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard led he Clippers with 26 points as their defense throttled a high powered Lakers offense which couldn’t find a way to turnaround their misfortunes. The Lakers were outscored by 10 points through the final three quarters but the damage had been done. Lebron James led the Lakers with a paltry 19 points and went 0 of 5 from 3-point range. Anthony Davis scored 18 points.

Game 2 --- LAC @ LAL [2-0] ---Huge third quarter by Clippers seals 2-0 series start as Lakers struggle yet again: The Clippers were all juice in this one, shooting 58% from the field as they scored 41 points in the third quarter to set up an astonishing 116-95 game 2 victory. Marcus Morris scored 21 and Montrezl Harrell scored 20 and hit 10 of his 12 buckets as the Clippers held the Lakers to under 100 points for a second consecutive game. LeBron James rebounded with 29 points on the night and went 5 of 6 from deep. Still, the rest of the Lakers played poorly.

Game 3 --- LAL @ LAC [0-3] ---Without superstar Leonard, the Clippers down the Lakers at home: The Clippers held the Lakers to just 72 points and won by 17 points without Kawhi Leonard. Montrezl Harrell led the Clippers with 24 points and Paul George picked up some of the absence from Leonard with 20 of his own points. Reggie Jackson and Louis Williams were dominant off the bench, scoring 16 and 12 respectively. The Lakers face an unthinkable game four elimination game. They simply haven’t played well this series. Anthony Davis led the team with 22 points and LeBron James scored 19. The Lakers shot 37% from the field and made just 2 of their 30 3-point attempts in what was a horrifying offensive showing. 99-72 final score.

Game 4 --- LAL @ LAC [0-4] ---Clippers advance to Western Conference Finals for first time in franchise history : Paul George (26), Montrezl Harrell (25) and Marcus Morris (20) contributed double-digit points to their game four victory, narrowly defeating the Lakers, 114-112. The Lakers were badly beaten this series, despite LeBron James scoring 29 and Anthony Davis adding 27 in a supporting role. The difference in this series was the bench. Despite not having Kawhi Leonard for two games, the Clippers still pulled off the unimaginable series sweep.


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Image (2) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) Boston Celtics Image

Game 1 --- BOS @ PHI [1-0] ---Celtics shock the 76ers with game 1 victory: The Clippers game 1 wasn’t the only upset of the Semifinals. The Celtics shocked the 76ers on the road with a 113-102 victory, thanks to their 56% shooting from the field. Gordon Hayward led the team with 21 points and Kemba Walker followed suit with 20 points of his own as they took a 26-18 first quarter led. The 76ers frantically rallied and outscored the Celtics, 36-28, in the fourth quarter – but it was a little too late. Ben Simmons led the 76ers with 22 points while MVP candidate Joel Embiid finished with 10 points.

Game 2 --- BOS @ PHI [1-1] ---Embiid rebounds with huge night against Boston: Joel Embiid exorcised his game 1 demons with a 37 point game 2 showing as the 76ers levelled the series, 107-91. Tobias Harris scored 21 from the field and went 4 of 6 from the arc. Kemba Walker scored 25 points in a losing effort for the Celtics.

Game 3 --- PHI @ BOS [2-1] ---76ers take series lead after fending off a Celtics side in closely fought battle: Joel Embiid led the 76ers as Philadelphia defeated Boston in a 104-102 affair. Kemba Walker led the Celtics with 20 points while Gordon Hayward was held to 11 points and shot poorly from 3-point range, going 1 of 9. Embiid finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Game 4 --- PHI @ BOS [3-1] ---Philadelphia take commanding lead in series after 96-91 victory: For the third straight game, Joel Embiid led the 76ers in a winning effort with 24 points. He went 9 of 14 from the field as Al Horford and Ben Simmons chipped in 19 and 17 points respectively. The Celtics found the lanes guarded well and couldn’t do much offensively, with Gordon Hayward leading the Celtics with 20 points. He went 0 of 4 from 3-point range while Kemba Walker went 1 of 9, finishing with 11 points.

Game 5 --- BOS @ PHI [1-4] ---Embiid’s monster 33 point, 18 rebound game eliminates Celtics: The good ole’ Philly-Boston rivalry finished in favour of Philadelphia for once. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with his best performance of the series – a 33 point, 18 rebound night while Tobias Harris and Alec Burks scored 19 and 12 points in supporting roles.


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Image (1) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (4) Toronto Raptors Image

Game 1 --- TOR @ MIL [1-0] ---Antetokounmpo’s 29 point night not enough as Raptors claim 99-97 game 1 victory: Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 23 points as he hit 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Despite owning the #1 seed, the Western Conference leaders handed a game 1 victory to the current defending NBA champion. The Raptors made 15 3-point attempts while the Bucks could only land 7 of their 13 attempts.

Game 2 --- TOR @ MIL [1-1] ---Milwaukee split home series with 7 point victory: Kyle Lowry’s epic 28 point night, which included nailing 8 of 11 from beyond the arc, wasn’t enough as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 30 point night, which included 17 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks were all the buzz around town as Milwaukee downed Toronto, 100-93.

Game 3 --- MIL @ TOR [1-2] ---Antetokounmpo shows why he’s the best player in the NBA but Raptors find a way to win: The Grecian God had another huge night, leading the Bucks with 37 points and 12 rebounds. Serge Ibaka finished with a modest 21 points for the Raptors but their depth got it done in this one, with six players finishing with over 10 points.

Game 4 --- MIL @ TOR [1-3] ---Milwaukee on the verge of elimination: The Toronto Raptors tied the series, forcing the series into a best of 3 after their 102-98 game 4 victory. Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 24 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 32 points in a losing effort.

Game 5 --- TOR @ MIL [3-2] --- Curry and Thompson put Warriors one win away from advancing to next round: The Raptors scored 20 3-pointers but still couldn’t get the job done as Milwaukee’s strong finish in the fourth quarter capped off a 114-112 night which included Giannis scoring 32 points and 22 rebounds. Lowry (29) and Dinwiddie (25) led the Raptors in a losing effort which sets up a game 6 elimination scenario. Or, will the Bucks complete the comeback?

Game 6 --- MIL @ TOR [3-3] ---Milwaukee sends series to seven games: Khris Middleton leads the Milwaukee Bucks with 36 points as they defeat the Toronto Raptors, 118-101 to set up a final game 7 series to decide who goes to the Eastern Conference Finals. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 26 points while Dinwiddie scores 26 points for the Raptors. Siakam (26) and Lowry (15) also chipped in valuable points – but in a losing effort.

Game 7 --- TOR @ MIL [4-3] ---NBA Champions head back to Conference Finals in high scoring affair: The Toronto Raptors are heading back to the Conference Finals, after eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks in a fiercely fought, high scoring 142-140 game. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 35 points while Khris Middleton scored 32, thanks to shooting 6 of 6 from deep. Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 42 points, while Marc Gasol scored 28 in a breakout night in the series. Dinwiddie scored 22 as the Raptors upset arguably the best team in the league this season.


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Post by Fapplatte » 24 Jul 2020, 20:15

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2020 Western Conference Finals Preview: (3) Timberwolves vs. (4) Clippers
nba.com/timberwolves/beat | May 17th, 2020
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MINNEAPOLIS – For the first time in sixteen years, the Minnesota Timberwolves have reached the Conference Finals. It’s the first time in Los Angeles Clippers history they have reached the Finals, which means both teams are vying for their first NBA Finals in franchise history. Had you asked me at the start of the season what the Western Conference Finals matchup would have looked like, I would have laughed at the prospect of a Clippers-Timberwolves series. Both teams are solid, there’s no doubt about that. Minnesota downed the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers shocked the NBA by sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers. These teams aren’t a joke. They have a legitimate shot at an NBA championship. The additions of D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Kelly Oubre Jr legitimised the Timberwolves, disbanding the label of the motley crew of misfits. Minnesota finally has a cornerstone to build from. Karl Anthony-Towns remains the face of the team. He may not have been the offensive juggernaut against the Golden State Warriors but, the center played excellent on defense, routinely coming away with 20 rebounds a game. He’s silently put together a formidable defensive performance this postseason while D’Angelo Russell and Kelly Oubre Jr have stolen the spotlight with their high-scoring acts. For Los Angeles, the addition of Kawhi Leonard has been the move their franchise so sorely needed after Chris Paul and Blake Griffin could never get it done in Hollywood. All eyes will be on the health of Leonard, who exited game 3 of the their Semifinals contest against the Lakers. Still, the Clippers managed to sweep the Lakers without their key powerhouse player.

The Timberwolves may have faced their most difficult obstacle this season – overcoming Golden State’s home court, which has been so good to the Warriors the past several seasons. In four games in Golden State this season, the Timberwolves went 3-1. Their game five in San Francisco was a turning point in the series and set up the elimination game – which Minnesota came through and dumped the former champions out of the playoffs. Will Minnesota’s gameplan differ against LA? Not particularly, not when they do it so well. Shooting from the arc and raiding the paint is what Minnesota has done best all season long. Minnesota will rely on D’Angelo Russell organizing the offense through first phase. Russell has average seven assists per game throughout the playoffs and has been nothing short of amazing on the offensive side of the court. He’s averaging 25.7 points per game and was the star of the show against the Warriors. He’s superior to Patrick Beverley in almost every category. If Russell has a dominant series, the Timberwolves could wrap this one up quickly. Karl Anthony-Towns has offensively been quiet through the playoffs, his points per game has decreased to 19.1 from 25.0 during the regular season. He’s countered that with some amazing defensive performances this postseason. He’s averaging more rebounds than points. Yes, let that sink in. The wildcats Malik Beasley and Kelly Oubre Jr[/B] round out a very potent shooting duo. Beasley is the sharpshooter will Oubre is so good from the mid-range. Oubre has also played well on defense and did so against the Warriors. Defense wins championships, but you can’t get there without your offense and with these Timberwolves, their offense is so potent they may as well not field a defense.

The Clippers. All eyes will be on Kawhi Leonard this series. He’s been rushed back from his sprained ankle in game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers from the Semifinals. Outside of Leonard, there’s no superstar on the roster. They’re just a team of very good players who fit well into the system at hand. Never underestimate it. Los Angeles did and LeBron James will be watching the NBA Finals from the confines of his sofa for a second consecutive season. This team reminds me of the Dallas Mavericks which toppled the All-mighty Heat of the 10’s. Marcus Morris is good for 11 points a game, Louis Williams is the sixth man who can give you around 15 points per night. Reggie Jackson is one of the best bench players in the NBA and Paul George is still an excellent all-round player for the Clippers, although his poor 3-point shooting (.217%) this postseason won’t scare Minnesota if they leave him deep. The Minnesota Timberwolves are the highest scoring team in the league this postseason, the Clippers allow the fewest points per game (92.1). They also have the highest point differential (12.9) in the postseason. The Clippers were so good on defense, they’ve allowed the third fewest field goals attempted per game (81.4), while Minnesota allowed 115.0 (the most and by far [20]). The Clippers don’t shoot a lot but when they do, they are accurate. They’ve shot 49.4% from the field which leads the NBA this postseason. Minnesota loves to distribute the ball around, these Los Angeles Clippers don’t. They have the least amount of assists per game (20.6) this postseason. One of the reasons is they force turnovers. They produce 8.3 steals per game and force 5.7 blocks per game, which is third most.

In terms of experience, Los Angeles trumps Minnesota significantly. The Clippers starting five’s average age is 29 with 3 players older than 30. Minnesota’s average is 23, with all five players under 25. Naz Reid is 20 and is a rookie. Minnesota is the overwhelming favourite in this one, despite the series going 1-1 and the Clippers dismantling the Lakers in four games, whom the Timberwolves swept. Pound for pound, the Timberwolves have a better starting five and it’s not even close. Though, as already stated, the Clippers just click and make it work. This series shouldn’t last for more than six games. If LA are to win, they’ll likely need seven games to do so. Either way, the Western Conference will have a new representative in the NBA Finals. Neither Minnesota nor Los Angeles has ever gone to the Finals, which is exciting. They’ll face either the Toronto Raptors or the Philadelphia 76ers, who last appeared in the NBA Finals way back in 2001. In a time of powerhouse basketball through free agency, a return to upstart teams with Cinderella seasons is a welcome sight.


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2020, February 29 --- MIN @ LAC --- Kawhi Leonard dominates as Timberwolves finish off disastrous February: This was the month where it all came undone for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who went 3-5. Their poor performance after the All-Star break forced them down to the 7th seed by the time April rolled around. Despite shooting a higher % from the field and scoring twice as many 3s, the Timberwolves threw away a fourth quarter in which they were outscored, 42-25. Leonard was a demon this game, scoring 44 points and coming down with 11 rebounds off the glass while shooting 18 of 33 from the field. Paul George (16), Louis Williams (14), Reggie Jackson (13), Marcus Morris (11) and Paul Beverley (10) all contributed double-digit points in their comeback win. We will have to wait until game 3 to see the Timberwolves on the road in Los Angeles again. They totally unravelled against the Clippers and allowed 52 points in the paint. One of the reasons why the Timberwolves lost was their free throw shooting (7/24) of 29%. That was awful. Their fouling also got them into trouble and bit them on the scoreboard, with LA going 22 of 25 from the interior. Kelly Oubre Jr led the Timberwolves with 29 points in a losing effort. Karl Anthony-Towns also scored 29 points and came down with 20 rebounds.

2020, April 1 --- LAC @ MIN --- Minnesota embarks on six-game win streak to secure postseason berth: The Timberwolves were dangerously close to never reaching the postseason. Their statement victory at home against the Clippers led them all the way back up to the third seed. Despite the Clippers taking a 22-20 first quarter lead, they wouldn’t be able to hang on as Minnesota’s defense came to play, conceding just 88 points while their offense enough to secure 112 points. Karl Anthony-Towns led the Timberwolves with 32 points and 22 rebounds while D’Angelo Russell hit 4 of 8 from deep to help give him 25 points. Kawhi Leonard couldn’t replicate his reverse contest form, scoring just 12 points as he went cold from beyond the arc (0-3). Paul George led the Clippers with 21 points but also went 0 of 6 from 3-point range. It was a recurring theme that night. The Clippers just couldn’t get any three’s to go. They went 6 of 27 in that department. That’s poor and they can’t have a poor shooting night against Minnesota, as their high-powered offense will force the regret. This game fuelled the path to the postseason for Minnesota.

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Fapplatte
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Post by Fapplatte » 25 Jul 2020, 18:06

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Despite foul out, KAT does enough to see them through in game 1 of Conference Finals
Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (LAC :: MIN)

MINNEAPOLIS, MAY 19 -- Sitting courtside after being fouled out, Karl Anthony-Towns was just as nervous as the rest of the arena as the Minnesota Timberwolves held on to take game 1 of the 2020 Western Conference Finals, 112-107. Towns was dominant until he was fouled out early in the fourth quarter. His 25 points led the Timberwolves and his 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots showed his dominance on defense. It was a rosy start for Towns, as he picked up 14 points in the first quarter, covering for D’Angelo Russell, who hit just 1 of his 6 field goals to star the game. “Finals are tough,” said Jeremy Lin. “I told him in the lead up, there’s so much pressure, atmosphere. Everything is different and magnified.” Minnesota shot 33% from the field in the second quarter, giving Los Angeles a 61-51 lead heading into halftime. “We had to figure out our porous shooting,” said head coach Ryan Saunders. “You can’t turn up to a game like this and shoot poorly.” Minnesota got into foul trouble early and often. Less than 2 minutes into the third quarter, they had already committed four team fouls.

The Timberwolves would finally take the lead again with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter when James Johnson’s field goal gave them a 72-71 lead. The Clippers had a disappointing third quarter, shooting 5 of 22 from the field and going 1 of 5 from beyond the arc. In comparison, Minnesota shot 11 of 23 and hit 6 of their 9 3-pointers to claw their way back into the game – which included steals from Josh Okogie and Kelly Oubre Jr. Malik Beasley led the Timberwolves with 9 points in the third quarter, hitting all his 3-point shots (3). Nobody played more minutes than Oubre Jr, who scored 22 points, came down with 4 rebounds off the glass, dished out 5 assists, committed 2 steals and blocked a shot. “He came through in a big way,” said veteran James Johnson. “His trajectory has just kept rising since he has come to Minnesota.” Nobody could have expected this. Traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Minnesota Timberwolves shortly after Christmas day, Oubre Jr has powered the Timberwolves to three games away from their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. “It’s insane. We have the confidence to do this,” said Oubre.

While Paul George led the Clippers with 34 points, all eyes were on Kawhi Leonard and how much his injury would hinder him. So how much did it? Not much, but he wasn’t the focal point of the offense. Leonard finished with 24 points and hit 10 of 21 from the field. He had a difficult time against the Minnesota defense which clearly wanted to take him out of the gameplan. It worked for the majority of the game. A standout performance goes to Josh Okogie, who recorded a steal and a blocked shot while not allowing opportunistic 3-point attempts. His 13 points greatly contributed to Minnesota’s scoreboard, having hit 5 of his 9 field goals. He also came down with 7 rebounds and registered 8 assists. “He’s moulding into a pretty good player,” said Saunders. “He keeps getting better and better.”



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Post by Fapplatte » 26 Jul 2020, 11:44

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Dlo's inspiring performance leads Minnesota to two games from first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history
Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (LAC :: MIN)

MINNEAPOLIS, MAY 21 -- Halfway there. Who else to do it other than D’Angelo Russell?, whose 3-point shot with 41 seconds left gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals. Despite the Clippers playing hard for two games in a row, they have come up short twice. In the space of three minutes, Minnesota hit four 3-pointers from Russell (79-75, 7:19), Oubre (79-75, 7:01), Beasley (83-79, 5:59) and Russell (86-84, 4:46). They wouldn’t relinquish the lead and fended off the Clippers for a 99-93 victory. “It was a tough game,” said Kelly Oubre, who finished with 14 points. Both defenses forced the opposition into difficult shots. Oubre went 3 of 13 from the field. He wasn’t the only one who shot badly. Naz Reid, who performed admirably on defense with 7 rebounds and a steal, went 3 of 13 from the field. Entering the fourth quarter, both teams were shooting less than 40%. “I think the score line is indicative both defenses came to play tonight,” said Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders. “They have one of the best defenses in the league.” The Clippers forced 4 blocked shots and registered 31 fast break points, easily outscoring Minnesota’s 19. In a rare instance, Los Angeles also scored two more 3-pointers than Minnesota.

Los Angeles was hampered on offense with Kawhi Leonard not clicking into high gear until towards the middle of the third quarter, where the opportunities and buckets would begin to fall for him. Leonard finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. “My leg has been fine,” said Leonard. “I don’t need media to question me on it.” The decision for Los Angeles to start Reggie Jackson over Patrick Beverley was a fine one, with Jackson recording 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. He went 8 of 16 from the field. “He definitely gave them more of a burst,” admitted Russell, who finished 25 points. “They have such strong depth you have to be careful.” It was another busy night for Karl Anthony-Towns, who tied Russell for the team’s highest points corer. The center chipped in 20 boards to go along with his 25 points and also made 2 steals on defense. His final two free-throws, via intentional foul, with 27 seconds left gave them a 6 point lead. “We’re both similar teams,” said Towns. “We don’t have 3 huge superstars like other teams in the league. We just have a group of guys who are very able at what they do and we gel well.”

They’re not only gelling well, they’re playing well. The Timberwolves are two games outside of their first Championship appearance in franchise history. If Los Angeles don’t find another way to restrict the likes of D’Angelo Russell and Karl Anthony-Towns from making game changing plays, the sweep could be on the cards. The Timberwolves have lost just twice this postseason, the Clippers now three. There’s still a lot of basketball to play for but it certainly seems Minnesota are the strong side. Both teams won their matchups at home against one another. When the Clippers host the Timberwolves in game three, that outcome will be telling to see how this series pans out.



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Post by chosenone58 » 26 Jul 2020, 13:16

Let's go!
Creator of Derek Baldwin da Gawd
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Post by Fapplatte » 26 Jul 2020, 18:35

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Timberwolves on the cusp of first NBA Finals appearance after big games by D'Angelo Russell and Kelly Oubre Jr squeaks them past Los Angeles
Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (MIN :: LAC)

LOS ANGELES, MAY 23 -- The Minnesota Timberwolves are a victory away from their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, after the Timberwolves won another closely fought Conference Finals contest, 105-100. The Timberwolves were powered onwards by Kelly Oubre, whose 15 points in the second quarter, which all came from 3-point range, helped them to a 49-46 half-time lead. The second half was a defensive slugfest, which both teams hitting just 1 of their 9 opening shots. Minnesota steadied the ship, with D’Angelo Russell and Kelly Oubre leading Minnesota with 27 points. Between the two players, they combined for 9 3-pointers and went 7 of 8 on free throws. “He’s stepped up this postseason and has probably been our best player since the all-star break,” commented Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders. When Karl Anthony-Towns and D’Angelo Russell have been taken out of the game, Oubre has come through and led the team. His series against Portland was fantastic a fortnight ago and his Western Conference Finals performance has been noticed considerably.

Los Angeles has struggled to contain Minnesota and find themselves hanging by a thread with their chances of reaching the NBA Finals considerably thin, despite the three losing having been able to go to one way or another. While Kawhi Leonard finished with 25 points, his impact in the first half was minimal, having scored just 4 points. He rebounded late in the third quarter and helped the Clippers almost clinch a vital and much-needed win. Paul George, who scored 30+ points in the Conference Finals opener was held to just 16 points after he went 0 of 5 from beyond the arc and Montrezl Harrell has been kept in check, even when he’s playing good basketball. He grabbed 15 boards off the glass and scored 12 points. In a rare occurrence, Los Angeles out-assisted Minnesota, 28-27. They also scored more points in the paint, 46-30, and had more points coming off the bench, 23-17. Still, they couldn’t find a way to down the Timberwolves, who have now taken a commanding lead in the series. The star players for the Timberwolves have found a way to win. Los Angeles’ stars have gone MIA. Despite playing more minutes in the fourth quarter than anyone else, Kawhi Leonard scored just 4 in the fourth quarter and took two shots, finishing -5 against the Timberwolves when he was on the court.

Others have risen to the occasion too. Naz Reid recorded 14 boards, just five fewer than Towns. “He’s played as well as a defensive player could want to this series,” said Towns. “He’s a rookie. People forget that, but what he has done since starting for the team is nothing short of a success.” The little things always count. They have this series which is why Minnesota sit at 3-0. Had the little things favoured the Clippers, they would have the 3-0 series lead. The margin of the three games played so far has been 5.3 per game. The series is still very much on, although with three games played and a possible four left, it's looking more likely Minnesota will reach their first NBA Finals appearance after three decades of competing in the NBA, always coming up short and lacking the little things which would put them over the top. In two nights' time, Karl Anthony-Towns and the motley crue of additions Minnesota imported over the past year have the chance to put Minnesota in a place Kevin Garnett could never do.



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Post by Captain Canada » 27 Jul 2020, 00:51

Damn, really about to sweep the Clippers.
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Post by mvp » 27 Jul 2020, 12:30

Light work
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Post by Fapplatte » 27 Jul 2020, 13:21

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Timberwolves defeat Los Angeles Clippers to head to NBA finals for first time in franchise history
Preview | Recap | Game Info | Full Play-by-Play | Boxscores (MIN :: LAC)

LOS ANGELES, MAY 25 -- The Minnesota Timberwolves have beaten the Los Angeles Clippers in a closely fought affair to advance to the NBA Finals. The Timberwolves conquered the Western Conference finals after game 6 97-95 victory at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles Monday night. This is the first time in Timberwolves franchise history that the team will play in the NBA Finals. “It means so much. It’s taken such a long time for the franchise to get here,” Karl Anthony-Towns, a five-year veteran with the Timberwolves, told reporters after the game late Monday. Brushing off the confetti, Towns stated “I’m not satisfied. Our goal here is to win NBA Championships. The real thing starts now.” D’Angelo Russell reflected on his time with the Timberwolves, Throughout the past several seasons, Russell was made expendable on three-different teams. Not wanted in Los Angeles, traded for superstars in Brooklyn and not enough room in Golden State. “I worked so hard to get to this point after the career I have had so far. I found a home in Minnesota and it’s worked so well.” Worked well it has. Russell led the Timberwolves with 24 points and hurled in 5 boards and 8 assists as he worked the floor. It was another defensive affair, as it has been throughout this series. All four games were closely contested with the margin of defeat averaging 5.0 points per game. “We’re so fortunate to have won this in the most minimal time you could,” said head coach Ryan Saunders. “I tip my hat off to the Los Angeles Clippers organisation and Doc Rivers. What a great setup they have. I’m sure our teams will meet in the playoffs again.”

It’s a disappointing end for Los Angeles. To be whitewashed from the series without being blown out and playing Minnesota so close each game. “It hurts,” admitted Kawhi Leonard, who led the Clippers with 33 points and worked the floor with 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocks. “We tried our hardest but we couldn’t come up with a win.” Kawhi Leonard won the NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors last season but came up a series too short this time around. Minnesota played the floor well defensively, allowing Paul George just 10 shots – although he nailed five – 2 which came from his three 3-point attempts. Reggie Jackson, who replaced Patrick Beverley as the starting point guard after their game 1 loss was outclassed by D’Angelo Russell. He scored just 9 points and registered 4 assists. Russell has turned into one of the best point guards this season and this series cemented it. “Never did I think we would reach the NBA finals this quickly,” confessed Russell. “We had team talks at the beginning of the year, we knew we had the talent but we thought it would take some time.”

Minnesota have shown mental toughness and wherewithal exhibited by the Timberwolves has been nothing short of remarkable. This season what we’ve seen most of all is that the Timberwolves haven’t folded under pressure. Never mind the increase in talent they’ve acquired through the various trades with D’Angelo Russell, Kelly Oubre Jr and others. In the face of adversity, they’ve bounced back. A team which was almost eliminated from postseason contention in the final month of the season will now likely face the Philadelphia 76ers, who lead their series 3-1, against the Toronto Raptors, in the NBA Finals. Wins during the 2020 NBA Playoffs have strengthened and broadened the team’s fan base. Long-term fans have gone through some pretty dark days in terms of the franchise pretty much being ignored by everyone and operating in the shadow of the Vikings for many years. Not so much anymore. Win or lose the NBA Finals, this Timberwolves team is so young you can expect them to reach the Finals again sometime in the future. The Heat were the dynasty of the early 10s. The Warriors of the late 10s. Could perhaps, the Minnesota Timberwolves be the unexpected dynasty of the 20s?



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