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At 7:30 a.m. Beijing time on April 24, the NBA playoffs continued to heat up, and the Suns and Timberwolves once again had a fierce showdown. The Timberwolves, who started the game with a big win in the opening game, once again showed their good fighting power and teamwork in this game. Although the Suns have many star players, they did not seem to be able to play as well as they should in this game, and finally lost to the Timberwolves 93-105, and the series fell behind 0-2.
Game recap
At the beginning of the game, the Suns were obviously in poor shape, scoring no points in the first three minutes, while the Timberwolves quickly went on an 8-0 run. Although the Suns' Allen and Booker later managed to lead the team back to some form, they still trailed by three points at 21-24 at the end of the first quarter.
Entering the second quarter, the Timberwolves' offense hit a block, and the Suns scored seven straight points through Beal's outside shooting and breakaway to lead the team to a rebound, and the Suns narrowly led 51-50 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Timberwolves' Towns and McDaniels teamed up on the offensive end to lead the team to a wave of highs to regain the lead in the score, and the Timberwolves led 78-71 at the end of the quarter.
In the final quarter, things were even more unfavorable for the Suns. The Timberwolves' Conley and McDaniels continued to push the momentum, and an 11-0 scoring surge nearly sealed the game. In the end, the Suns lost 93-105 to their opponents, leaving the entire team in frustration.
Player performance
On the Suns, Booker scored 20 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, and although Durant had 18 points and 6 rebounds, his performance on 6-of-15 shooting and a plus/minus of -24 obviously did not meet his criteria. Gordon contributed 15 points.
As for the Timberwolves, Towns and McDaniels were particularly eye-catching, not only contributing to scoring, but also scoring consecutive points in key moments to help the team stabilize the situation. In addition, Conley's experience and ability to control the court were also important factors in the Timberwolves' ability to pull away from the score in key moments.
Player's score data
Suns
- Devin Booker: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
- Kevin Durant: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
- Aaron Gordon: 15 points
- Geralt Allen: 10 points, 8 rebounds
Timberwolves
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 24 points, 10 rebounds
- McDaniels: 20 points, 5 rebounds
- Mike Conley: 18 points, 7 assists
- Anthony Edwards: 15 points, 4 assists
The Timberwolves' victory can be attributed to several key factors:
- Efficient teamwork: The Timberwolves have demonstrated excellent teamwork during the game, especially teamwork and quick reflexes in key moments.
- Standout performances from key players: The scoring prowess of Downs and McDaniels helped stabilize the team in key moments, while Conley's experience played a decisive role in controlling the tempo of the game.
- Positive performance on the defensive end: The Timberwolves were positive on the defensive end, especially with a couple of important blocks and steals in key moments.
The Suns' loss was mainly due to:
- Slow start: The Suns didn't score in the first three minutes, showing that the offensive end didn't go well in the early part of the game.
- Inconsistently key players: Despite Booker and Durant scoring well, Durant's inefficient shooting and negative plus/minus suggest that he also has problems on the defensive end.
- Team morale and coordination issues: Falling behind 2-0 in a series was a big blow to team morale, while a lack of coordination in the game also affected the overall performance.
One of the more glaring controversies in the game occurred in the third quarter, when Booker made physical contact with a Timberwolves player on a breakaway during a Suns offense but failed to get a whistle to back it up, a decision that sparked some controversy and team dissatisfaction with the referee's inconsistent decision on the contact foul.
While the Suns are currently facing a 0-2 deficit, there have been quite a few comebacks in the history of the playoffs. The key is whether the Suns can adjust their tactics in the upcoming games, improve the play of key players, and solve the current defensive problems. The Timberwolves, for their part, should continue to maintain their teamwork and defensive intensity, using home-court advantage to seal the win as soon as possible.
The game was a classic matchup between offense and defense, with the Timberwolves coming out on top thanks to teamwork and key players, while the Suns needed to reflect on their slow start and play in key moments. The course of the series is still uncertain, but the Timberwolves' current lead gives them a huge psychological and tactical advantage. In the next game, the adjustment and mentality of the two teams will be the focus of observation.