Leader of the Western Conference, the Wolves took a half to tame the Knicks. And then, on the shoulders of Anthony Edwards (23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) and a perfect Rudy Gobert on shots (16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks), they recorded a sixth victory in a row at home (117-100).
With nine victories in their last ten games, including seven victories in a row, and therefore this series at home, Minnesota is simply having its best start to the season since 2004. That is the last year in which they made it through a round of the playoffs…
It starts strong in any case with Mitchell Robinson who fakes Rudy Gobert at the head of the racket with a left-handed dribble followed by a huge two-handed dunk! The Wolves do not take long to respond at the level of the spectacle, with a monstrous dunk from Anthony Edwards who hovers an hour before crushing the leather in the circle, on a miss from Mike Conley at 3-points in the corner!
After a very balanced first quarter (31-28 for Minny), the Wolves try to pass the second in the second quarter by counting +9. With a superb collective action on a fast play concluded by a big two-handed dunk from Gobert (sanctioned with a stupid technique for hanging on to the circle too much). But the Knicks hang on behind their Barrett – Randle – Brunson trident, respectively at 11, 12 and 14 points at the break (58-56 for Minny).
The Gobert-Robinson duel enlivens the racket
No matter, it’s only a postponement! Because in the third quarter, with Edwards returning to business, the Wolves regained their ease again, thanks to a scathing 16-5 from the start. The gap even rose to 22 units under pressure of an Edwards who continues to press where it hurts, in the paint. At the same time, Gobert repels Robinson with an authoritarian counter, and the Wolves inexorably make a hole before the last quarter (93-75).
Discreet in the first half with only 4 points on 2/7 shots, Edwards scored 11 points in the 3rd before adding another layer in the 4th with 8 units, including a 3-pointer in first intention after almost losing the ball on a daring interception attempt from Robinson, or on a superb finish after hesitation in traffic.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Rudy Gobert received 7/7. The French pivot is having a blast again in the NBA after a complicated season last year. In the collective which gains a little more cohesion every evening (see below), Gobert shines and his performance of 7 out of 7 on shots last night confirms that his teammates are looking for him and serving him rather well under the circle.
– Jaden McDaniels injured in ankle. This is the only black point of the evening for the Wolves. The starting winger had to leave his partners after a sprained right ankle suffered in the first quarter. He did not return to the game, which allowed Nickeil Alexander-Walker (11 points, 3 assists) to have his minutes afterwards.
– Minny’s collective impresses. With 7 players at 9 points or more, including three coming off the bench and two starters at 20 points or more, the Wolves hierarchy seems perfectly accepted by a group that lives well together. The card of continuity, taken down this summer, is now paying nice dividends and the Wolves can aim even higher for the future: “We are finding our cohesion”says Alexander-Walker. “I can’t say enough about how much this group has improved in terms of chemistry, on and off the field, and that helps us tremendously on the field. We play for each other, we cut, we move, we defend, we grab the rebounds. We do the little things that make a great team. »
– Complicated return for Quentin Grimes. After missing two games due to a left wrist injury, Grimes was placed back in the Knicks’ major five. We can’t say that it was a great success since the guard finished with zero points: 0 points to 0/6 from 3-point range in 25 minutes of play.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
