Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has interesting instructions for struggling stars Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns ahead of Game 3. The Wolves are down 0-2 against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals. Tonight, they look to win their first game of the conference finals and get back into the series.
As Game 3 approaches, Finch shared his contrasting advice to the team’s best players to get back in the series.
“It’s been pretty simple. Ant, you got to speed it up. KAT, you got to slow it down,” Finch said.
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Edwards hasn’t been himself in the first two games of the series. In Game 1, he had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists but shot 6-16 from the field. In Game 2, the Wolves star slightly scored more with 21 points. However, he struggled on the floor and only made 5-17 from the field.
Edwards has not played aggressively since the series started and many have pointed out how fatigued the player has been. After all, the Wolves played seven games against the Denver Nuggets, which could’ve tired the two-time All-Star.
Towns has also struggled in the first two games against Dallas. KAT only had 16 points and seven rebounds in their first game. The big man shot 6-20 from the field and 2-9 from beyond the arc. In Game 2, he didn’t show much improvement as he only had 15 points and shot 1-5 from deep.
KAT was supportive of being benched by the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves had an interesting defensive lineup during the final moments of Game 2. KAT was benched with 8:40 left in the fourth quarter as he already had five fouls during the game. The big man never returned to the game, and the Wolves weren’t able to mount a comeback.
After the game, he was asked about it and he shared how he didn’t mind being benched in Game 2.
“I’m with winning, so whatever it takes to win,” Towns said per Bleacher Report. “Naz has it going. Coach’s decision, I’m fully supportive of my coaching staff. Wouldn’t question them one bit. Of course, I’m always going to be ready to play whenever he calls. Naz got it going, our team was playing well.”
In the final defensive possession, the Wolves had a big lineup of Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaniels and Edwards. But their size wasn’t enough and Luka Doncic forced a switch on Gobert to hit a stepback game-winning three-pointer.
Minnesota had three seconds left to win the game, but they also didn’t put Towns on the floor. They chose to switch Anderson for Mike Conley.
