Chris Finch credited his team’s ball movement for Minnesota’s 131-114 win over Memphis on Saturday night. “I thought we did a decent job scoring in isolation in the first half, but there was a lot of ball movement to be had out there. I thought we found a little bit of rhythm right before halftime,” 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 emphasized the role of Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards in that stretch. “Both Julius and Anthony were playing through the middle of the floor at a high level and seemed to be a big piece of our offense too,” he said.
Finch highlighted the importance of free-throw opportunities for Edwards. “Ant got to the free throw line a ton, which certainly helped with his efficiency, and Julius shot the ball extremely well all night long,” he added.
The coach also praised role players for their contributions. “Naz was really good. I thought Mike was outstanding. He didn’t score, but he did a lot of really great things out there. Plus 18 indicates 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 really good with the game plan, great in help situations… he had a couple block shots tonight. Just competes, competes, competes.”
Finch addressed defensive adjustments as well, noting Memphis was getting into the paint too easily. “I thought we were soft on the ball and that led to a lot of fouling, so we need to be like we were on Thursday,” he said.
Reid’s shooting also drew 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 opportunity, more confidence. His season started to gain momentum when he focused on rebounding and doing other things, and then the offense followed suit.”
Minnesota placed five players in double figures, with Edwards scoring 33 points and Randle adding 27. Rudy Gobert anchored the interior with 16 rebounds and two blocks, helping the Timberwolves maintain a 53 percent shooting mark from the field and 49 percent from three.
The win improves Minnesota to 31-19, maintaining fifth place in the Western Conference, while Memphis falls to 18-29 amid injuries and roster challenges. The teams will meet again Monday night to conclude the back-to-back set.
