Unbeaten at Home: Timberwolves Secure 12th Consecutive Home Victory
In Game 2 of the NBA playoffs’ first-round series, the 3rd-seeded Timberwolves continued their dominance at home against the 6th-seeded Suns. Displaying formidable defensive prowess once again, the Timberwolves relied on the unexpected heroics of Jaden McDaniels to secure a 105-93 victory. With this win, home teams maintain an undefeated record of 12-0 in this year’s playoffs.
Timberwolves’ Strong Start
The Timberwolves, aiming for a second consecutive home win, opened the game with an 8-0 run, forcing the Suns to call a timeout in the first three minutes of play. Despite the early setback, the Suns gradually found their rhythm and narrowed the deficit to just 3 points by the end of the first quarter.
Suns Take Lead in Second Quarter
In the second quarter, the Suns capitalized on Deandre Ayton’s presence in the paint after Karl-Anthony Towns encountered foul trouble. Led by Devin Booker’s 13 points and Kevin Durant’s 11 points, the Suns managed to take a narrow 51-50 lead at halftime. Mike Conley led the Timberwolves with 14 points, while Anthony Edwards struggled, scoring only 5 points.
Timberwolves Regain Control
Shortly after halftime, the Suns faced adversity as Grayson Allen exited the game with an ankle injury. With Towns back on the court and drawing defensive attention, the Timberwolves went on a 20-12 run to reclaim the lead. In the final quarter, Conley and McDaniels took turns scoring, extending the lead to 15 points. Despite a valiant effort by the Suns to mount a comeback, they ultimately fell short, suffering their second consecutive loss.
Balanced Scoring for Timberwolves
The Timberwolves showcased balanced scoring, with McDaniels leading the way with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Edwards contributed 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Towns and Conley added 12 and 18 points respectively. Rudy Gobert also made significant contributions with 18 points and 9 rebounds.
Efforts from Suns
For the Suns, Booker led the scoring with 20 points, followed by Durant with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Bradley Beal chipped in with 14 points, while Jusuf Nurkic recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Eric Gordon provided a spark off the bench with 15 points. (Lvbet)
