The Minnesota Timberwovles opened their 2016 preseason with a 109-100 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins led the way with 20 and 19 points respectively.
It was a comeback win for the Wolves who found themselves down 15 after the first half.
With new head coach Tom Thibodeau at the helm, the Wolves aim for a more rounded defensive team this season. But last year’s defense deficiencies lingered into the first half on Saturday night.
Minnesota allowed a whopping 62 points through two quarters and Thibodeau wasn’t happy about it.
Tom Thibodeau wasn't happy with how his team started the game but pleased they got the message after halftime. #NBAKC pic.twitter.com/e6gJWEFPEM
— T-Mobile Center (@tmobilecenter) October 9, 2016
I mean this in a great way: Thibodeau is, like, way into this. Practically afroth.
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) October 9, 2016
With the Wolves down 20 points in the third quarter, the team eventually caught fire offensively and played smothering defense along the way too. All-in-all Minnesota scored 41 points in the quarter.
Waiters hits a triple to beat the buzzer.. #Twolves lead 88-85 after 3Q. Minnesota shot 12-of-21 (57.1%) in that frame.
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) October 9, 2016
Wolves forced heat into eight third-quarter turnovers.
— Kent Youngblood (@BloodStrib) October 9, 2016
Minnesota’s bench took over in the final quarter with: Nemanja Bjelica, Shabazz Muhammad and Brandon Rush finding themselves in double figures along the way.
The Timberwolves defense continued to get stronger too with Miami scoring just 15 points in the final quarter. As a team, Minnesota shot 43 percent from the floor and drew 39 trips to the free throw line.
Rookie Kris Dunn played 24 minutes and although he scored just 6 points, he stuffed the stat sheet pulling down 4 rebounds, dishing out 7 assists and securing 2 steals.
The Timberwolves road trip continues next week as they travel to Charlotte on Monday to play the Hornets.
