Hit in the left hip, the day after a lost match against the Cavaliers (synonymous with almost leaving the NBA tournament), Joel Embiid is not on the Minnesota floor. And it’s a first for him this season. This greatly facilitates matters for the Wolves, who start the meeting well.
The defense is in place, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards chain baskets. They are then joined by Naz Reid coming off the bench. Minnesota dominates the first quarter (37-20).
This is not the case at the start of the second. The attack is suffering and little by little, with a 15-2, the Sixers come back. It is once again the duo Karl-Anthony Towns – Anthony Edwards (54 points between them) who breathe new life into Chris Finch’s troops (57-49).
The fullback hits twice from 3-point range after the break and is accompanied by a very active Rudy Gobert offensively. The Wolves thus regain around fifteen points in advance. Before the last act, they do not seem in danger (91-79). They are right to be calm because Nicolas Batum and the Sixers do not have the weapons to shake them up in the final minutes. Logical victory for the Wolves, 112-99.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Sixers who crack at the end. Valiant without Joel Embiid, Nick Nurse’s players were dominated but catchy for a large part of the meeting. Tyrese Maxey had his streaks, Marcus Morris too and Philadelphia made good use of some lost balls. But back-to-back and without the 2023 MVP, it’s difficult to come and win in Minnesota.
– The Wolves, seven at home. This third victory in a row for the Wolves, leaders of the West, is also a seventh success in seven matches in Minneapolis. Undefeated at home, Anthony Edwards and his teammates share this success with Boston (6-0) and Denver (7-0) who are also still perfect at home.
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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.
