Led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-95. Rudy Gobert (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Anthony Edwards (19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists) added a combined 40 points for the Timberwolves in the victory, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks for the Thunder. With the victory, the Timberwolves have secured the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and will face the No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets on Sunday, April 16 (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in the First Round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Presented by Google Pixel.
The Timberwolves will now be making consecutive Playoff appearances for the first time since 1996-97 through 2003-2004 (8 straight years).
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Towns drives on Giddey, the runner off the glass is good.
So skilled for a big man.
Gobert, another excellent season.
Rebound on the basketball, fourth in the NBA.
Towns down low, leans inside, banks it home.
Let them play on.
Anderson, the drive.
Nice defense from Dort.
Towns, good aggressiveness down low for the putback.
A lot of playoff experience.
Part of the Suns team that went to the finals a couple years ago.
We got four up his knee in game one.
Knocks that one down.
Now it's four or five.
He's sped up a little bit right now.
Towns gets in the paint.
Soft touch by the big man.
He's in double figures.
First one tonight.
Getting him in position in the middle of the floor
where he can see where the help comes from.
Patient with the ball handling.
Gets to his spot, elevates.
He is a skilled offensive weapon.
And Towns missed a ton of time.
Fifty-three games.
Nice spin move there.
Throws it up.
Oh, it goes down with a circus shot
and a chance for a three-point play.
Staying aggressive.
Gets the contact, just flares it up
because he hears the whistle and gets rewarded
for the first half for Carl Anthony Towns.
Four points, three rebounds in the first half.
And didn't play Tuesday at the suspension.
Been dealing with back spasms.
Carl Anthony Towns out on a three.
Conley up top to Towns.
Towns drives inside.
Count it and a foul.
Going to be a blocking foul on Jalen Williams.
J-Will, they call him.
Towns already with 20 points.
Seven boards.
Couple of assists.
He's eight of 11 from the field.
Towns thought about it.
Now drives down a lane.
Back shot is good.
And another.
But certainly have responded.
Offensively putting his team on his back right now.
Making plays consistently.
Getting downhill.
Another drive.
Another and one play.
Spectacular job by Carl Anthony Towns.
23 points in 21 minutes.
Anthony Edwards drives.
Kick out.
Alexander Walker.
Won't go.
Towns the rebound.
Back up and in.
Attack the offensive boards.
See the right side of the screen on the box.
Doesn't settle.
Gets himself in position.
Use that strength and length to get the board.
And finish in traffic.
Spectacular night for Anthony Towns.
Anderson pass stolen by Jalen Williams.
Throws it at Isaiah Joe.
Can't get it.
Who tracks it down.
But the old man Conley.
The extra effort comes up with the steal.
Throws it ahead to Anthony Towns.
He recognizes his twin tower partner.
And Gobert at the rim throws it up.
Minnesota having a party.
And the crowd loving it.
Anderson fakes.
Leans in.
Trying to draw a foul.
Won't go.
Towns the rebound.
