The Minnesota Timberwolves used an 18-4 run over the last three minutes of the third quarter and the opening three minutes of the fourth quarter to knock off the Detroit Pistons, 124-117, Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Little Caesars Arena.
After consecutive three-pointers from Alec Burks and Jaden Ivey (the second of which came with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter) closed the Timberwolves’ lead to 91-88, the Pistons went cold over the next six minutes. They only managing two jump shots from reserve Kevin Knox II over that time span, but the Wolves were able to reel off a barrage of buckets from several players, taking full control of the game, 109-92, and not letting the Pistons ever get back into the contest.
“I think we had six turnovers in the third and that sort of took some air out of us a little bit when we couldn’t get a shot up and we were giving it to them,” Pistons Head Coach Monty Williams said after the game.
Ivey was able to bring the game to within six, 115-109, after a spot-up three-pointer with 3:56 remaining, but that’s as close as the game would be before Minnesota put it away with an 8-0 run on back-to-back threes from Jaden McDaniels and Karl-Anthony Towns and a layup from Anthony Edwards to make it 123-109.
“I think I’m just trying to figure out the best ways to help this team and I feel like I can help this team both ways, offensively and defensively, with my gifts God has given me. I’m just trying to utilize them the best way that I can,” Ivey said. “But as far as my effort on the defensive end, that has to be there every single night and I’ve gotta continue to play that way and play hard defensively.”
The Pistons were led on the night by Ivey, who played with a high motor all night, constantly attacking the rim and the Timberwolves’ twin towers of Rudy Gobert and Towns. He finished with 32 points, tying a career-high in scoring. His 32 points were also a game high, and he added six assists and four rebounds to go along with it.
Four other Pistons finished in double figures, as Bojan Bogdanovic poured in 20 points, Jalen Duren posted 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Knox II and Isaiah Stweart each chipped in with 12 points.
For the T’Wolves, Anthony Edwards and Towns both finished with 27 points. McDaniels added 23, and Gobert 19 points and 16 rebounds.
Williams said he was proud of the way Ivey has been aggressive on offense for the team. Given the absence of star guard Cade Cunningham, Ivey has been called on to pick up some of the scoring that the team lacks with Cunningham expected to be sidelined for another week or so with a left knee strain.
“You look at the offense and you see the unreal numbers, but I’m really proud of the way he defended tonight… We feel like that’s something he can do on a consistent basis,” Williams said.
The Pistons showed poise in the first quarter, enduring a short Minnesota run to push to a 40-39 first-quarter lead that saw eight Pistons score. The Pistons weren’t as efficient in the second quarter as they were in the first when they shot 67 percent from the field. They allowed the Timberwolves to carry over a 64 percent-shooting first quarter and the visitors took a 70-62 lead into halftime.
“I thought we fought hard all game. I feel like just those last couple minutes in the fourth quarter, they hit some shots and we had some breakdowns,” Ivey said. That’s a playoff team right there and we’ve gotta figure ways to cut their baskets short and stay in the game.”
Despite the Pistons’ 4-37 record on the season, both Williams and Ivey said they see growth and improvement from the team in a number of ways.
“Sometimes you find growth in the losses, not just in the wins,” Ivey said.
The Minnesota game marked the first game that recently acquired forward Danilo Gallinari and center Mike Muscala were available for the Pistons following a trade with the Washington Wizards. In exchange for Gallinari and Muscala, the Wizards received forward/center Marvin Bagley, forward Isaiah Livers, and future draft considerations from the Pistons.
Although Gallinari didn’t see the floor, Muscala clocked 15 minutes of action. He didn’t score, going 0-for-4 from the field, but he tallied three rebounds and two blocked shots, including a block on Naz Reid in the third quarter that Williams praised for forcing a Timberwolves turnover.
“I think he played really well today and gave us a boost off the bench,” Ivey said.
The Pistons will next take the floor Saturday, Jan. 20, when they host the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks, who are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.