In an electrifying night of NBA playoff action, the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks both claimed crucial victories in Game 4 of their respective series. The Timberwolves triumphed over the Golden State Warriors, while the Knicks overcame the Boston Celtics, setting the stage for an intense Game 5.
Anthony Edwards put together a masterpiece, and not just because he led the Timberwolves with 30 points. We saw a glimpse of his shooting potential by knocking down 6-of-11 from deep! Jonathan Kuminga contributed significantly for the Warriors with a team-high 23 points, but it was not enough to overcome the Timberwolves’ offensive onslaught. Karl-Anthony Towns registered a quiet double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, steadying the ship.
Jalen Brunson was phenomenal, going off for 39 points to lead the Knicks. On top of that, he continued his playmaking prowess, handing out 12 dimes against the Celtics. He absolutely took over in the second half, scoring 26 of his points coming after the break. This performance was key for New York as they came back from an early 0-2 hole. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics’ charge with 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Even with Tatum’s heroics, the Celtics came up painfully short.
Timberwolves Overcome Warriors
The Timberwolves may have established their reputation as one of the league’s best shooting teams in a recent battle against the Golden State Warriors. They logged an incredible 47.1 percent success rate by draining 16 of their 34 three-point attempts. By comparison, Golden State had a tough time shooting from three, at only 29.6 percent (8-for-27). T Wolves head coach Chris Finch called their third-quarter performance — which he labeled “big” in securing the win — the best part of their Game 3 victory.
“The big third quarter was huge,” – Timberwolves coach Chris Finch
Finch first stressed how amazing of a level of focus and intensity his players brought in the second half. This relentless focus was key to their upset win. Further, he noted, they were fortunate to be only down one shot at halftime. This very public reality demonstrated the urgent need for change.
“I thought we came out at halftime with the type of focus and intensity and purpose on offense and attention to detail on defense is what we needed from the start,” – Timberwolves coach Chris Finch
Edwards and Towns really shone in the contest. Meanwhile, Jaden McDaniels announced himself with 10 points and 13 rebounds, complementing a well-rounded team performance.
Knicks Rally Against Celtics
And the Knicks continued their fight against the Celtics in a nail-biter. Both teams battled, and momentum changed constantly as the game went back-and-forth. Brunson’s calm, cool performance was a reminder of all the times he stepped up down the stretch when it mattered. Though the game seemed headed toward a Brown victory in the second half, Brunson and his teammates caught fire.
Mikal Bridges led New York with 23 points. Then, Randle one-upped him with a team-high 31 points, giving the Knicks elite offensive firepower. Despite Derrick White’s strong showing for Boston, where he made six three-pointers and scored 23 points, it wasn’t enough to secure a win.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said he was proud of his team’s resolve after they were pushed to the brink early on. He highlighted their ability to regroup and fight back, stating they exhibited “a lot of toughness and more discipline in the second half.”
“I love the way we fought back, and we showed a lot of toughness and more discipline in the second half and timely plays. Everybody worked together on both ends of the floor,” – Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau
Looking Ahead to Game 5
With both series heading into pivotal Game 5s, excitement is palpable among fans and players. The Warriors will need to regroup ahead of their next match, with Stephen Curry’s status being re-evaluated before this pivotal encounter.
For the Celtics, White acknowledged the challenges ahead: “It’s not like we planned to be in this situation. We are where we are. We have to find a way to win Game 5.”
The Timberwolves and Knicks are both building off major victories on Wednesday. The next slate of games features some of the most exciting basketball competition in the world!
