Chris Finch credited his team’s ball movement for Minnesota’s 131-114 win over Memphis on Saturday night. “I thought we scored well in isolation in the first half, but there was a lot of ball movement out there. I thought we found a bit of rhythm just before half-time,” Finch said.
The Timberwolves opened the third quarter by making 12 of their first 16 shots, turning a nine-point halftime lead into a commanding 92-73 advantage. Finch highlighted the role of Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards in that stretch. “Both Julius and Anthony played at a high level through the middle of the floor and looked to be a big part of our attack as well,” he said.
Finch emphasized the importance of free throw opportunities for Edwards. “Ant got to the free-throw line a ton, which certainly helped his efficiency, and Julius shot the ball extremely well all night,” he added.
The coach also praised the role players for their contributions. “Naz was really good. I thought Mike was excellent. He didn’t score but he did a lot of great things. Plus 18 shows that,” Finch said.
When asked about Mike Conley’s impact despite limited scoring, Finch said, “Super smart. Defensively, he covers a lot of ground. He’s very good with the game plan, great in help situations… he had a couple of block shots tonight. Just competes, competes, competes.”
Finch also addressed defensive adjustments, noting that Memphis was getting into the paint too easily. “I thought we were soft on the ball and that led to a lot of fouls, so we have to be like we were on Thursday,” he said.
Reid’s shooting also attracted attention. Finch described his improved confidence and volume: “Naz has this little snatchback three, which is really good. A lot of times that comes at the end of transition… more opportunities, more confidence. His season started to gain momentum as he focused on rebounding and doing other things, and then the offense followed.”
Minnesota placed five players in double figures, with Edwards scoring 33 points and Randle adding 27 points. Rudy Gobert anchored the interior with 16 rebounds and two blocks, helping the Timberwolves maintain a shooting rate of 53 percent from the field and 49 percent from three.
With the win, Minnesota improves to 31-19, maintaining fifth place in the Western Conference, while Memphis falls to 18-29 due to injuries and roster challenges. The teams meet again on Monday evening to conclude the back-to-back set.
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