Today, the San Antonio Horse Assassin Field challenges the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs won valuable play-off spots after the last victory over the Nuggets, and the Timberwolves, who have won more than ten games more than the Spurs, have no choice but to miss the top six and have to work with the Spurs as "good brothers" in the playoffs. Although the two teams can only meet in the second round of the playoffs, it is certainly necessary to fully understand the possible opponents of the play-offs, after all, no team wants their year's efforts to be wasted.
The two teams were deadlocked at the start of the first quarter, but the Timberwolves, who played at home, quickly took the lead. However, the Spurs, who have strong combat ability in the first quarter, then played a wave of 12-2 offensive attack to reverse the point difference and take a 5-point lead to end the first quarter, after all, on the first quarter of the game, the Spurs have basically not lost in the whole season, even if it is the league's championship team, the Spurs are likely to be able to gain an advantage in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the stronger Timberwolves, who were still playing at home, recovered in time, and seized the opportunity to seize the Spurs' offensive turnout to return to a 12-4 offensive wave to regain the initiative. As soon as the first round of buff passed, the Spurs' combat ability did drop a lot, and the Timberwolves also won 12 points in a single quarter and ended the first half with a 64-57 victory over the Spurs.
As the Timberwolves began to show their absolute talent again, Towns opened with eight points, followed by Beasley's two consecutive three-pointers to widen the point difference. It has to be said that the Timberwolves' offensive firepower is really strong, and when their stars are all online, it's hard to imagine any team that can compete with it. Although the Spurs' end-of-season state has picked up, it is still difficult to resist. The Timberwolves led the Spurs 97-82 at the end of the third quarter.
The Spurs fought backwaters in the final quarter, and they seized the opportunity of the Timberwolves' slackening in the last minute to send a 10-1 offensive attack to chase the point difference to 5 points, but there was too little time left to have more opportunities to operate. In the end, the Horse Assassin field was defeated.
Although the Spurs have locked up a play-off spot after the previous game's victory over the Nuggets, the next games are less important for the Spurs. But we still have to look at the factor that the Spurs lost this game, that is, the defense of the opponent's arrow figures.
Before there was Towns on the Spurs to create a history of 60 points, now Edwards downplayed 49 points, I have to say that the Spurs' defense of those players with explosive scoring ability and physical fitness is indeed unsatisfactory.
Towns, who has the ability to shoot from the outside, can pull Peltel out of the inside line, and out of fear of Downs's ability to break through, he can't go forward to defend. The Spurs will also face this situation in the playoff against the Pelicans, after all, Valanciunas' three-point ability is still quite terrifying. And as Peltel's big brother, Pelter is really difficult to gain an advantage in the opposite position with him.
There's also the defense of the strong outside. Morant, Alexander and others are still vivid in their impact on the Spurs' interior, and today's Edwards is also a combination of surprise shots that will make the Spurs crowd cry bitterly. And the McCollum and Ingram they are about to face are also first-class scorers.
In fact, I personally think that the Spurs are unlikely to break into the playoffs. But it's gratifying to see players being ridiculed and put straight into the playoffs, and throughout the Spurs' entire season, their hard work and progress have moved us. Even if this season fails, I believe they will soon be able to make a comeback and achieve better results.
Moreover, no team on the NBA stage can win a certain victory, and no team must lose, and there is still a glimmer of hope in the face of the challenge of the playoffs. No, just as a stressful training session for the Spurs to improve their players.