The Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat have nailed down the No 8 seeds in the NBA playoffs with their play-in tournament wins
“We utilized our size. We did a great job of putting pressure on the paint and just doing what we do best,” Towns said. “Rudy was fantastic. He did a lot for us and really imposed his presence.”
“We are in the standings, but I don’t consider us as an ‘8’ seed,” Gobert said, adding: “We know if we play the right way, there’s not a team in the league that we can’t beat.” Towns had 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting in Minnesota’s 108-102 overtime loss in Los Angeles in the first play-in game on Tuesday, when the Wolves offense grinded to a woeful finish. This time, they took a much better blend of outside and inside shots with a constantly moving ball. Towns and Gobert going to work against the much-smaller Thunder, who played all season without No 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren, the 7ft 1in Minneapolis native who broke his foot in summer pro-am game.
“It was nice not to give back a lead, which we’ve done quite a bit,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “The guys were super locked-in. They knew what it was going to take.”Max Strus had another three-pointer taken away in an elimination game. He and Jimmy Butler made sure it didn’t matter.
“They’re disappointed,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “When you make that investment from September to the middle of April, that’s a lot of time. You reflect back a little bit. I think they’re all disappointed. We were getting better as a group, I think, since the All-Star break. It would have been nice if we found a way to win tonight and continue on to the playoffs, but it didn’t happen.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘I’m all for climate change’: Axel Springer CEO faces heat over leaked messagesMathias Döpfner’s reported comments on climate, Muslims and east Germany – and his apparent political manoeuvring – create shock waves
Read more »
As the climate warms, New Zealand winemakers grapple with a changing landscapeWinemakers worry the heat could make wine too sweet, while others are starting to plant grapes in areas previously considered too cool
Read more »
Dallas Mavericks hit with $750k fine for sitting players with playoff hopes aliveThe NBA fined the Mavericks $750,000, saying the team engaged in ‘conduct detrimental to the league’ by sitting out key players in a must-win game
Read more »
In a foreign field, a torch will be lit to help veterans and families touched by warWhen Legacy, the charity that assists veterans and their families affected by war, was planning its 2023 centenary celebrations, it wanted to stage an event more meaningful than a black-tie gala dinner.
Read more »
Do I need a COVID booster? What the science says - ABC RadioAs we head into winter, the federal government has launched a fresh round of ads urging adults to get their COVID boosters. But there are differing views in the medical field over whether everyone needs another shot. Today, an epidemiologist on the next wave, and what the latest science says about protection against COVID. Featured: Professor Tony Blakely, epidemiologist, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne; chair, New Zealand Royal Commission to draw lessons from pandemic response; contractor, Moderna Australia
Read more »