The Minnesota Timberwolves can start preparing for their summer vacation. They're still alive in the 2024 Western Conference finals against the Dallas Mavericks but after their 116-107 Game 3 loss on the road Sunday night, their chances to make it to the 2024 NBA Finals is theoretically dead. With that said, here are two reasons the Timberwolves got slapped with another loss in Game 3.
KAT has left the town
Anthony Edwards finally woke from his scoring slumber in the Mavericks series with a solid performance in Game 3, but the Timberwolves got reminded that he can't do it on his own. They need the other stars to perform, particularly big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who was once again a no-show for the Timberwolves. The former Kentucky Wildcats star sputtered once again in Game 3, as he went just 5/18 from the field for 14 points. He did have 11 rebounds, but Minnesota fans likely would love to exchange those rebounds for offensive efficiency from the self-proclaimed “greatest big man shooter of all time.”
Towns shot just 6/20 from the field in Game 1 for a brutal 30 percent success rate. Many probably would have taken a bet at that time on the proposition that Towns would not shoot worse in a game than what he did in the series opener. Well, Towns converted just 25.0 percent of his field goal attempts in Game 2 and 27.8 percent in Game 3. Ouch.
It's just been an absolutely embarrassing series so far for Towns. Overall in the series, he's recorded a horrid 27.8 field goal percentage and an atrocious 13.6 3-point percentage. He's not been shy about pulling the trigger from behind the arc, perhaps thinking that positive regression will eventually show up, but even if he recaptures his shooting form in Game 4, it might be too late for the Timberwolves, considering that a 3-0 series deficit is nearly equivalent to a playoff death sentence.
Execution in the clutch
Anothe recurring issue for the Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals has been their inability to hold on to their lead late in games.
Via Wolf Den:
The Wolves have had their chances all series long.
▫️Up 4 with 3:37 in Game 1
▫️Up 5 with 1:29 in Game 2
▫️Up 2 with 5:05 in Game 3
All series has come down to late game execution and the Wolves just haven’t had it.
In the final 5:05 minutes of regulation in Game 3, the Timberwolves shot just 2/9 from the floor. They went 0/4 from deep the rest of the way. The Mavericks, on the other hand, pounced on Minnesota's defensive vulnerability on the other side of the court, as Dallas was an immaculate 5/5 from the floor over the same stretch.
While the Mavericks boast of two clutch assassins to take over in the end game, the Timberwolves don't seem to have two guys to match Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, who delivered buckets and right plays when Dallas needed it. Reggie Miller perhaps said it best (via Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer):
“Reggie Miller comparing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to Mariano Rivera and Dennis Eckersley is pretty good. The two best closers remaining in the playoffs, and two of the best to ever do it.”
Whether it's because of the Mavs' defense or Minnesota just not having it in the fourth quarter, it's clear that the fourth quarter is not a comfortable time for the Timberwolves. Among all teams still alive in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the T'wolves have the worst fourth-quarter offensive rating and second-worst net rating. Plus, the Timberwolves have the worst fourth-quarter effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage among the four teams remaining. They're getting looks but they just couldn't buy the baskets to save them against the Mavericks.
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