Beaten the day before in Orlando, Minnesota quickly recovered by winning 113-104 in Miami. This is the 7th victory in eight matches for Karl-Anthony Towns teammates, and it is precisely the All-Star interior who struck first. After two minutes, Wolves are already leading 9-0 with nine points from their leader! Bam Adebayo stops the bleeding, but Towns continues, and the gap stabilizes around 10 points (24-14). The speed of the Wolves disturbs the Heat a lot, and it is necessary to wait for the entry into play of Tyler Herro for the Heat to regain their senses.
With Max Strus, the 6th man of the Heat begins to pound the defense, and a rain of 3-pointers falls on the Wolves: 7 of 12 from afar for the two shooters in the first half. Under their leadership, Miami signs a 13-0 to take control (50-43). Looking for a second wind, and while Towns manages a foul problem, Minnesota relies on Jaden McDaniels. But the Heat increases its pressure, and the Wolves explode with a 14-2 signed Miami shooters. At the break, Miami leads by 12 points (67-55).
No panic Wolves side, and in two minutes, the delay is almost filled. At the maneuver, the second knives like Jordan McLaughlin, Naz Reid or McDaniels. Their enthusiasm is overflowing, and they also start putting in from afar. They squarely end the 3rd quarter on a 13-2 with an award-winning basket at the last second from Taurean Prince. Wolves are ahead: 89-86.
The Heat come to their senses and Markieff Morris makes a good comeback to support Herro. Under their leadership, Miami takes control (100-97). A simple thinning since the Edwards-Towns duo wakes up to sign a 7-0 (104-100). Malik Beasley plants the 3-pointer which hurts, and Wolves win 113-104 at the Eastern Conference leader.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
The return of Markieff Morris. We knew he was close to a comeback, and Morris made his big comeback last night after missing 58 matches! His good passage at the start of the 4th quarter had allowed the Heat to regain the advantage.
The Wolves have the answer. As Chris Finch will explain after the game, it’s typically the kind of game Wolves would have lost last season. A wasted lead, a 12-point delay at the break, a back-to-back to manage… But Minnesota has changed, and even when the stars are not on a big night, the second knives are precious like McLaughlin, Reid or Nowell again.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The Wolves bench. Minnesota is not just a trio of stars, and if the team has a foot and a half in the playoffs, it is because there is a rotation of 9-10 players. Tonight, Jaylen Nowell, Taurean Prince and Naz Reid all had an impact on the game. Nowell’s speed on the drive often unsettled Miami’s defense, while Prince did good with his defense and his opportunism in attack. His 3-pointer at the end of the 3rd quarter air-conditioned the room.
✅ Anthony Edwards. The best of the holders by its activity and its aggressiveness. We will also remember this shift on the decisive basket of Malik Beasley. He attracts all the defense and his reading of the game and the movement of his teammate did the rest.
✅ Tyler Herro. Once again, the Heat’s best player. As soon as he enters, something happens. While Jimmy Butler squats the infirmary with a 22nd missed game, Miami’s 6th man has become his team’s number 1 danger.
✅ ⛔Karl Anthony Towns. For the second night in a row, he was held back by a foul problem. Too much enthusiasm after a hot start to the match: 11 points in 150 seconds. Author of a double-double, he takes his 4th on an offensive fault. The good news is that Minnesota knows how to win even when it’s struggling.
THE FOLLOWING
Miami (45-24) : reception of Detroit on Tuesday.
Minnesota (39-30) : Monday trip to San Antonio.
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