The Timberwolves today won 119-99 against the Warriors.
In today's game, the Timberwolves had five players in double figures, including Towns playing 29 minutes, shooting 11-of-20, 1-of-6 from three-point range, 3-of-5 from the free throw line, and 26 points and 11 rebounds. Coming off the bench, Jaylen Noel and Beasley contributed 17 and 16 points, respectively.
The Warriors also had five players on their side who scored in double figures, but Curry and Green were both absent from today's game, and Thompson and Wiggins were both mediocre, so the Warriors suffered a fiasco. The Warriors' record over the past period has been terrible, with only 4 wins and 5 losses so far in 2022, already 2.5 wins behind the Suns.
After the big win over the Warriors, the Timberwolves' record came to 21-22, surpassing the Lakers and Clippers in a row to rise to seventh in the West. With both lakers and Clippers struggling this season, if the Timberwolves can stay in their current form, they are expected to make the playoffs this season, while the Los Angeles twin Lakers and Clippers may have a team that misses the playoffs.
Affected by injuries, the record of the two strong teams of the Lakers and Clippers this season is not very strong, which is also understandable. The Clippers' two superstars, Leonard and George, are currently unable to play due to injury, and it is not easy for the Clippers to consistently rank in the top eight in the West.
As for the Lakers, James and Thick Brow have also suffered injuries, Thick Brow has not yet returned, and many other players have suffered injuries, and Wei Shao's performance is not strong, so the Lakers' record has been tepid.
While the Clippers have fallen out of the top eight in the West and the Lakers are just eighth in the West, the good news is that they are currently in no danger of falling in the rankings, because the Blazers, who are in tenth place in the West, currently have a 40% win rate, three wins behind, and Lillard may be reimbursed for the season, and the Blazers have little hope of reaching the playoffs this season.
Therefore, the Lakers and Clippers have great hopes of reaching the playoffs this season, but if the Timberwolves continue to be in the top eight in the West, then the Lakers and Clippers may meet in the playoffs to compete for the last playoff spot in the West. The Lakers and Clippers did not meet in the Western Conference Finals, but it is possible to meet in the playoffs and compete for playoff spots, which is indeed a big surprise.