The Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32) turned the tide in the second half and secured their third win in their last four games with a 123-104 win over the Detroit Pistons (42-33) on March 31.
Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers:
Rudy Gobert 19 PTS | 25 REB | 1 BLK | 51.0 FPS
Gobert has finally hit his stride after nearly a month-long absence due to back issues. Over the last four games, he’s been nothing short of impressive, scoring 15+ points and grabbing double-digit rebounds in each outing, including a season-high performance today. He was also highly effective on offense lately but couldn’t mirror his defensive performance from the last game, where he posted 5 stocks. Nevertheless, with his current form, Gobert looks poised to dominate in the remaining matchups.
Julius Randle 26 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST | 44.1 FPS
Randle has continued to struggle with his outside shooting, but his improved free-throw production and effective scoring from the field have allowed him to score 25+ points in back-to-back games, pairing that with quality rebounding and playmaking numbers. He’s also in a strong position to sustain these numbers against the Nuggets, as he’s done in their last three matchups this season.
Anthony Edwards 25 PTS | 6 REB | 2 BLK | 40.2 FPS
Edwards got off to a slow start and seemed on track for a disappointing performance today, but he came to life in the third quarter, scoring 20 points and helping his team pull ahead. While his production has taken a noticeable dip this month with the team returning to full health, he remains capable of explosive scoring performances, given his tendency to take a high volume of three-point shots.
Mike Conley 17 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST | 25.4 FPS
Conley has been quietly effective lately, shooting well and averaging double-digit points, along with modest peripherals and good defensive stats in five of his last six games. He should also be able to sustain his contributions, at least after their game against the Nuggets.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 11 PTS | 4 AST | 1 BLK | 21.4 FPS
NAW has continued to play a decent role off the bench, providing modest scoring and peripheral stats. However, with several players at risk of suspension, he is likely to see an increase in both minutes and production.
Detroit Pistons Top Performers:
Dennis Schroder 11 PTS | 4 REB | 11 AST | 32.3 FPS
Schroder was present on the injury report with a quad issue but has played through it and continues to perform well in place of the injured Cunningham. Despite facing some offensive struggles and foul trouble, he has managed to deliver two-straight double-double performances and should remain a solid roster option as long as Cunningham is unavailable.
Jalen Duren 13 PTS | 11 REB | 3 AST | 31.7 FPS
Duren has scored in double digits in each of his last six games and recorded double-doubles in four of them. But his contributions have largely been limited to a few categories for his position. However, with several players possibly facing suspension, he should see an uptick in both minutes and production in the upcoming games.
Tim Hardaway Jr. 20 PTS | 4 REB | 1 BLK | 30.8 FPS
Hardaway has seen a significant increase in minutes over his last two games and has made the most of the opportunity, averaging 26 points and posting strong numbers across all shooting categories. With multiple players at risk of suspension and others injured, he’s worth keeping around for now.
Malik Beasley 27 PTS | 6 3PM | 2 REB | 28.4 FPS
Beasley moved into the starting lineup today with Harris unavailable and delivered an excellent scoring output with good percentages, but not much else. However, he should continue to see a bigger role in the offense and keep producing at a high level in the coming games.
Ausar Thompson 14 PTS | 4 REB | 1 AST | 19.4 FPS
Thompson delivered a strong two-way performance in their win against the Cavs but couldn’t carry that momentum into today’s game due to struggles on offense and foul trouble. It’s been a tough month for Thompson, but he has scored in double digits in his last three games and should remain an important part of the rotation.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Jaden McDaniels 2 PTS | 9 REB | 2 BLK
McDaniels’ scoring has been highly inconsistent in recent weeks, and he struggled offensively once again today, marking his third single-digit game this month. However, he was able to make up for it with his defensive efforts—a notable improvement after his declining numbers in those areas over the last four games.
