The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Heat tonight. Minnesota outscored Miami in the fourth quarter 21-6. The Heat were down 81-79 with 2:33 remaining and started the fourth quarter down 92-86. Minnesota turned up the defense at the start of the fourth. Miami missed three shots and committed a turnover to put the Wolves ahead for good.
Heat and T’Wolves will play again
Minnesota had lost three of their last four games coming into playing Miami. They lost to Brooklyn at their house 123-107 last Saturday and Atlanta 126-102 on Wednesday. The game against the Heat could possibly have been used as a “get right game.” Minnesota has won seven out of the last nine games versus Miami.
The Heat will play Minnesota again on Tuesday, January 8th in Minnesota. Miami is 1-3 in Minnesota over the last few seasons. The T’Wolves are sixth in the West behind the Lakers. Oklahoma City and San Antonio are running away with the West but Minnesota is only one game behind Houston for the third seed. The Heat are one game out of the fourth seed (Toronto is #4.)
T’Wolves “another level of opponent”
The Wolves started the fourth quarter on a 21-6 run. The Heat made it interesting by scoring 29 points in the fourth quarter but the game had already been decided. Brady Hawk of Five Reasons Sports wrote that the Heat had difficulty containing Anthony Edwards and couldn’t score. Minnesota had Anthony Edwards (33 points,) Julius Randle with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Nazir Reid with 29 points.
The Heat fell to 2-8 when letting opponents shoot 50% or better and Minnesota moved to 15-1 when they hold opponents to 112 points or less as per ESPN. Anthony Edwards did well to “get right” versus the Heat, but Edwards left the game against Atlanta angry. It is very possible that the Heat catch Edwards in a mood when they play next.
