“We’ll shake it off. We gotta be better.” That’s how Timberwolves coach Chris Finch described the mentality around his squad fresh off arguably their worst loss of the season with his comments. No harsh criticisms of his players, even if they deserved it after that performance. No sense of urgency, unusual given that the loss dropped them from potentially as high as fourth seed all the way to eighth place. And no concern that this could become a trend, despite a number of late blown leads over the season. His nonchalant attitude could certainly rub some fans the wrong way, but inside the locker room, sources reported a much more positive outlook. Hopefully the team can stay unified for a final playoff push.
Timberwolves’ Coach Dismisses Concerns Following Blown Lead
Is this a microcosm of the season?
Chris Finch: It’s a bad 4th quarter against a zone defense. I don’t think it’s a microcosm of the season. #Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/r8YASKgaC1— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) April 9, 2025
How Did This Happen?
“It’s a bad fourth quarter against a zone defense,” elaborated Finch. Leading by 24 points early in the fourth quarter, the Minnesota Timberwolves seemed poised to extend their win streak to six games. Hot shooting nights from Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid had them in control, leading 95-71. Milwaukee was floundering, and Giannis Antetokounmpo had been a non-factor. Then, Milwaukee made a desperate defensive switch — the Bucks went to a zone defense in one final attempt to disrupt the Wolves. It did more than that. Over the next eight minutes, Milwaukee ripped off a staggering 34-3 run, taking a lead that they never relinquished. It was a complete and total collapse in a game that the Wolves could hardly afford to lose.
Yet Another Debilitating Loss in a Season Full of Them
“We’ve had some tough losses before in the season,” said Finch. He’s not wrong. The Minnesota Timberwolves are one behind the NBA lead (Miami Heat) in clutch time losses this season. Of the 33 losses on the year, 26 of them have been within five points in the final five minutes. It’s a statistic that passes the eye test as well. When the Wolves are down big, they often put together late runs to make the game close. Yet when the tables are turned, and Minnesota is the one holding a large lead, they often take their foot off the gas and let the opposition back into the contest.
Wolves Star Anthony Edwards Echoes Chris Finch’s Comments
“We can’t really think too much about it. It happened. I don’t think we feel too down about it,” is how Anthony Edwards felt after the loss, speaking in the locker room to Wolves beat writer Chris Hine. His attitude, a mirror of Finch’s own comments, can be taken two ways, especially given the upcoming pressure of playoff games. One is that this team doesn’t understand the importance of holding onto big leads. However, what seems more likely is that this squad is prioritizing what they can control, and that is the schedule in front of them. Rather than ruminating on past games, they look ahead, see a big game against Western Conference foe Memphis, and set their sights on victory in that enormous contest. For the sake of the fans, hopefully the latter is true. It’s imperative that the Timberwolves coach and star player are on the same page. With three wins in their final three games, Minnesota could still avoid the play-in and reach the sixth seed. A loss in any of those three would likely relegate them to the Play-In Tournament.
Photo credit: © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Anthony Edwards: “We good. I mean, it’s a part of the game. Of course we didn’t want to lose. But we can’t be in bad spirits because we know we need to win next game. So, we can’t really think too much about it. It happened. I don’t think we feel too down about it.” https://t.co/r38mLiKUjV
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) April 9, 2025
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