Frederick: Timberwolves set standard in fourth quarter of Spurs win

Minnesota Timberwolves proved they're a force to be reckoned with by putting on a stunning display of basketball in the fourth quarter of their win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Wolves trailed by four points at the end of three quarters, but then turned it up a notch, showcasing a brand of ball movement and shooting that's reminiscent of the best teams in the league.

The Timberwolves' offense was almost unstoppable, with Anthony Edwards leading the charge. He finished with 32 points, six assists, and four rebounds after shooting an impressive 13 for 18 from the field. However, it wasn't just Edwards who contributed to the team's success. The entire starting lineup played a key role in the Wolves' comeback, with each member scoring at least eight points.

What was particularly impressive about Minnesota's fourth-quarter performance was their defensive intensity. The Timberwolves were relentless in their ball pressure and rotations, limiting the Spurs to just six minutes of offense before calling timeout with the game out of reach. This kind of defensive prowess is a hallmark of top-tier teams, and it was clear that Minnesota's players had caught wind of this approach.

Coach Mitchell Johnson's decision to play center-less for much of the fourth quarter proved beneficial for the Wolves. San Antonio's lack of a big man allowed Minnesota's smaller unit to defend with greater ease, and it seemed to pay dividends as they moved the ball freely around the court.

"We have so many guys who can push the ball, score the ball, and that's the fun part of the game," said guard Mike Conley. "Everybody looks to run, everybody looks to play with pace... That's something we set out to do this year is play faster, throw the ball out, get guys more opportunities." However, Conley also acknowledged that it's a difficult balancing act.

"When you're doing both, to run, to play offense and to guard is really hard to do," he noted. But what Minnesota demonstrated on Sunday night was a willingness to take on this challenge head-on. The team shot 56% from the floor and 46% from deep, with seven players scoring eight or more points.

Sunday's victory marked a turning point in Minnesota's season, as they've now won back-to-back games against teams with winning records. It also showcased the kind of basketball that could define this team's success – a blend of offense, defense, and pace. Whether Minnesota can sustain this standard remains to be seen, but for one night at least, they proved themselves to be among the best in the league.
 
I'm hyped for the Timberwolves right now! They showed some serious sauce on the court 🀯, especially in that 4th quarter when they turned it up to 11 πŸ”₯. Anthony Edwards is a beast πŸ’ͺ and his chemistry with the team is undeniable. The way they moved the ball around like it was butter 🍰 was beautiful to watch.

I think Coach Johnson's decision to play center-less for part of the 4th quarter was pure genius πŸ‘. It allowed them to exploit San Antonio's lack of a big man and get some easy buckets. And Mike Conley is speaking the truth when he says they set out to play faster and throw the ball around more πŸŽ‰.

It's not just about one game, though - this is what I've been waiting for from the Wolves all season ⏰. They're starting to show that they can compete with the best teams in the league, and it's exciting to watch πŸ˜ƒ. Can they keep up this pace? Only time will tell, but for now, let's just enjoy the ride πŸš€!
 
OMG, what a game!! 🀯 The Wolves totally shut down the Spurs defense in that 4th quarter. I love how Coach Johnson went with the center-less lineup, it was like they were reading the opposing team's playbook. Those small guys can move! πŸ˜‚ And Ed Edwards just on fire πŸ”₯, 32 points and all those assists? Unstoppable! πŸ’ͺ On top of that defense was on point too, not letting Spurs get much offense. I'm hyped for this season, who knew Minnesota had it in them to hang with the big boys? 🀩
 
I'm not convinced by all the hype around this win πŸ€”. It's great that the Wolves showed some spark in the 4th quarter, but let's not forget they were down by 4 with 12 minutes left πŸ’₯. I'm still waiting to see how they perform under pressure when it really matters πŸ”΄.

The defensive intensity was impressive, don't get me wrong πŸ™Œ, but can we rely on that every game? I mean, what about the times when they're up by 5 or more and just want to cruise to the finish line 🚫? Will they be able to maintain this level of effort?

And let's talk about the 'pace' aspect... it sounds like a buzzword to me πŸ“£. Is it really possible for a team to balance offense, defense, and pace in every single game? I think we'll see how long that lasts πŸ’ͺ.

It's great that the players are saying all the right things, but stats are what matter at the end of the day πŸ“Š. Minnesota needs to back up this win with more consistent performance over a longer stretch ⏰. We're still waiting... πŸ€”
 
That was one epic game πŸ€―πŸ€! The Wolves are totally on fire πŸ”₯ right now, and it's awesome to see them showing off their skills πŸ’ͺ. Anthony Edwards is a total baller πŸ‘‘, but I love how the whole team came together to make it happen 🀝. Defense is key, and they brought that intensity ⚠️. Coach Mitchell Johnson made some smart moves too πŸ“ˆ. And Mike Conley's comments about playing faster and more freely are totally relatable πŸ˜‚. The question now is can they keep this level of performance up? πŸ’₯
 
the wolves are on fire πŸ”₯πŸ”΄οΈ and edwards is killing it πŸ’€ 32 points six assists four rebounds what a game from him i love how the entire starting lineup chipped in and showed their skills but coach johnson's decision to go small-ball in the 4th qtr was pure genius 🀯 who knew playing without a center would be so effective? conley's comments about finding that balance between offense and defense are on point, it's not easy to do but they seem to have figured it out for now. still gotta see how they keep this up throughout the season though
 
man I'm so hyped about the Timberwolves' win πŸ€©πŸ€! their ball movement was on point and edwards is a beast πŸ’₯ he's got some serious skills out there. what i love most about this team though is how they can switch up their strategy mid-game and make it work. coach johnson's decision to go center-less in the 4th quarter was pure genius πŸ€“ it was all about using their speed advantage against san antonio's slower big men. and conley's comment about balancing offense and defense is so true πŸ™Œ i mean, teams who can pull off that kind of game plan are the ones who'll take it to the top in the playoffs!
 
I'm loving how the Timberwolves are starting to gel, you know? They're really showing what they're capable of with that offense and defense combo 😎. It's crazy how much of a difference it makes when everyone on the court is clicking. I think the biggest takeaway for me was how coach Mitchell Johnson mixed things up by playing center-less in the fourth quarter - it just paid off in such a big way πŸ’‘! And what's with Anthony Edwards, man? 32 points, six assists... he's like a one-man show 🀯. The thing that really got me though is when Mike Conley talked about finding that balance between offense and defense. I mean, yeah, it's tough to do, but if they can pull it off consistently, watch out NBA ⚑️
 
omg u guys! i'm so hyped 4 the timberwolves!!! 😍 they showed everyone what they're made of with that comeback against the spurs! edwards was on fire πŸ”₯ and the whole team came thru. defense was on point too, all that ball pressure was insane 🀯 coach johnson making those adjustments paid off big time. it's def starting to feel like these wolves are gonna make some noise in the league this yr πŸš€
 
I'm lovin' this Timberwolves vibe right now! 😎 They're like the underdog team that's always been overlooked, you know? But seriously, their fourth-quarter comeback was pure magic ✨. I mean, who doesn't love watching a team come from behind and show everyone what they're made of? It's like the '80s NBA all over again, minus the mullets 🀣.

And let me tell you, Anthony Edwards is straight fire πŸ”₯! The way he can take over a game like that is insane. But it's not just him, the whole team played together like a well-oiled machine πŸ’ͺ. I love how they're playing with pace and aggression, it's like they're trying to prove everyone wrong again πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ.

Now, I'm not gonna lie, their defense was on point too πŸ‘€. San Antonio had to work for every basket, and that's what separates the good teams from the great ones. Coach Mitchell Johnson must be doing something right, I mean, who else can pull off a center-less lineup and still get the win? πŸ€”.

But what really got me is how they're playing with a sense of freedom and joy on the court 🌟. When you're having fun, it shows in your play, and that's exactly what this team is doing. They're not just trying to win games, they're trying to have a good time while doing it 😊.

Fingers crossed they can keep this up and make some noise in the playoffs! 🀞
 
omg did u watch the game? 🀩 i was so invested in the 4th quarter it was like my heart was racing lol what's with all these timeouts tho? can't they just play without stopping for a sec? anyway back to the game i think anthony edwards is literally unstoppable πŸ˜‚ he got those 32 points and 6 assists like whoa! and the whole starting lineup played so well together it was nice to see πŸ‘
 
Man I'm so hyped about the Timberwolves right now 🀩! They're playing some top-notch basketball if you ask me. The way Edwards is going off (32 points and 6 assists, not bad at all!) but it's the whole team that's making a difference. Everyone's stepping up their game and showing they can play both offense and defense.

It was insane to see them go from being down by four to taking the lead like that in the fourth quarter πŸš€! Their ball movement and shooting are giving teams nightmares. And let's not forget about Conley, he's been talking trash for years (just kidding, kind of) but seriously, his vision on the court is so cool.

I'm loving this pace-and-space approach they're taking, it's like a breath of fresh air compared to the slow and stagnant teams we used to see. Okay, I know Minnesota still has a ways to go to reach their full potential, but for one night at least, they proved themselves to be serious contenders πŸ†!
 
man, you gotta love the way the Timberwolves are clicking right now 🀩! their offense is on fire πŸ”₯ and it's not just anthony edwards leading the charge... he was definitely a key player, but the whole team came together to put on that fourth quarter show. i think coach johnson made some smart adjustments too πŸ‘ playing center-less allowed them to defend with ease and move the ball around like a well-oiled machine πŸ’ͺ. and let's be real, their defense is top-notch 🚫 it's clear they're taking this 'play faster' thing seriously and it's paying off big time!
 
Ugh, 32 points from Anthony Edwards is pretty meh if you ask me 😐. I mean, I get it, he's got skills and all that, but can't he score without relying on his teammates so much? It feels like he's just passing them the ball and letting them do all the work. And don't even get me started on Coach Mitchell Johnson's decision to play center-less in the fourth quarter... I mean, come on, how did that not get called out as a major strategic error πŸ™„?
 
omg i'm DYING!!! minnies win over spurs was SO inspiring! anthony edwards is literally the GOAT right now 🀩 his game is on fire and the whole team played like a well-oiled machine πŸ’ͺ it's amazing how they were able to come back from behind like that. coach johnson making those adjustments at halftime really paid off. i love how mike conley is talking about playing faster and getting more opportunities for everyone... it's like, can you imagine what we could do if we just played with the pace and movement that minnies did tonight? πŸ’¨ i'm so hyped for this team right now! πŸš€
 
the way minnesota timberwolves played defense in the 4th quarter was πŸ’₯ amazing!! they were so relentless with their ball pressure and rotations it felt like san antonio's offense just got stuck in neutral 🚫 coach mitchell johnson's decision to play center-less was pure genius πŸ’‘ it allowed minnesota's smaller unit to defend with ease and move the ball freely around the court πŸ‘Œ what i love about this team is that they're not afraid to take risks and play at a fast pace πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ it's infectious, man! even when conley said it was hard to balance running, playing offense, and guarding, he still found ways to make it work 🀯 now we just gotta see if they can sustain this level of performance throughout the season 🀞
 
omg 🀯 i'm loving how the Timberwolves are stepping up their game! anthony edwards is straight fire πŸ”₯ with those 32 points and 6 assists. but what's really impressing me is their team defense πŸ’ͺ, they're like a well-oiled machine out there. coach johnson's decision to go small in the 4th quarter was genius πŸ€“ it allowed them to defend easier and just move the ball around all over the court.

i'm also loving mike conley's attitude towards playing fast-paced basketball πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ "we want to get guys more opportunities" yeah, no kidding! you're a coach who understands that defense is key too. they shot so many percentage points from the floor and deep 56% from the field... 🀯 what a team effort!
 
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