It’s a good time to have some Minnesota Timberwolves basketball inside Target Center. With the temperatures dipping below zero, the Wolves started a five-game homestand that will keep them home until their Christmas matchup with the Denver Nuggets. The matchup tonight was against the struggling Sacramento Kings who sit only above the New Orleans Pelican in the Western Conference Standings.

Anthony Edwards missed his second consecutive game with right foot soreness, which is still not believed to be a long-term injury. With Mike Conley also out, Bones Hyland made his second consecutive start as the Wolves’ point guard.

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It was a lousy start offensively for the Timberwolves as they struggled to either generate easy looks in the paint or knock down their outside shots. They finished the first quarter shooting 9-14 from the field, 1-7 from beyond the arc, and 1-3 from the free throw line, trailing 27-20.

The Wolves started the second quarter strong, scoring the first 12 points of the frame, but failed to grow the lead any further as the Kings made 11 of their next 14 shots to reclaim a 52-51 lead heading into halftime.

After a Keegan Murray basket to open the second half, the Timberwolves would again put together a strong stretch of play, scoring the next 15-0 points to go up by as many as 13 points. The run was ignited by a pair of assists and a step-back jumper from Bones, who stepped into the starting point guard role well with both Edwards and Conley out.

Later in the third quarter, Rudy Gobert left the game and did not return due to personal reasons. Without Gobert on the floor the rest of the way, the key for the Wolves escaping the game with a win would be their ability to defend.

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Minnesota’s defense in the third quarter left a lot to be desired as they were unable to guard without fouling. Minnesota committed 12 fouls in the period, which led to 14 Sacramento free throws, while the Wolves only generated three free attempts, missing all of them. That disparity allowed the Kings to keep the game close as the Wolves led by four heading into the fourth quarter.

Like many of their wins this month, the Wolves dominated the fourth quarter. Bones, like he did all night, was the catalyst scoring seven quick points. Naz Reid was next, putting in a pair of 3-pointers and a couple free throws as the Wolves lead grew to double-digits.

Julius Randle put the finishing touches on a 117-103 Timberwolves victory with an and-1 layup. He finished the game with a team-high 24 points to go along with ten rebounds and three steals. Five Timberwolves players finished with at least 18 points including 21 from Jaden McDaniels, 20 from Naz Reid, and 18 from both Hyland and Donte DiVincenzo.

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Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch spoke after the game about the reasons why his team as won six of their last seven games despite seemingly still having another level of play the team can reach.

“I think our composure down the stretch has gotten lot better. Our ability to make the right read, certainly shot making has helped in those moments. Coming off of that week where we went to Phoenix, SAC, Oklahoma City, we talked about how we need to be better in closing games, and the themes that popped up, and guys have done a good job of addressing that.”

Bones Hyland was the catlalst for almost every Minnesota run during the game, espeically in the fourht quarter where Hyland scored nine of his 18 points. Bones spoke postgame in the locker room about what he saw on the floor that allowed him to be so succesful in the fourth quarter.

“I seen the matchups that I liked. Just trying to be aggressive, get downhill, whether it’s for myself or create for teammates. But yeah, just trying to stay aggressive and do what coach is telling me. If you see them in a drop or see them switching, get aggressive, see Naz on a pop or Ju, just make the right reads.”

Bones made the right reads almost the entire night, put the ball in the basket when the team needed, and did so without taking up too large of the usage pie. Since re-joining the rotation Monday, he has given the Timberwolvese exactly what they’ve needed especially tonight without Edwards and Conley.

For the time being Hyland has earned himself a spot in the roation and if he keeps performing like he did tonight, there will be no reason for him to give up that spot.

Up Next

The Timberwolves continue with the second game of their five-game homestand with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. It will be the first of four matchups between the two teams this season. The game begins at 7:00 PM CT and airs on FanDuel Sports Network and NBA TV.

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