Devin Booker wasn't the only thing tearing through the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
Chris Finch described the illness going through the team as an "intestinal flu," which sounds fun. Said Prince, Rivers are out, others like Anderson and Edwards are "kind of battling right now."
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) March 30, 2023
Minnesota had won four in a row entering Wednesday's action, but proved incapable of gutting out a victory in Phoenix. Missing three reserves -- and with other players playing through illness -- the Timberwolves fought admirably, repeatedly drawing to within two points in the final quarter.
When they got close, Phoenix responded by scoring in bunches. As anyone who has had the flu knows, it is hard to stop the runs. Their defensive effort was admirable, though. Minnesota kept Phoenix from throwing up outside shots, limiting them to 6-20 shooting from distance. Ultimately the Timberwolves played too sloppy, committing 21 turnovers.
Their big men were the worst culprits on the turnover front, with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns each losing the ball six times. Even the officials got in on the turnover-forcing fun, as seen with this soft foul call on a Rudy Gobert post up of Devin Booker.
Rudy Gobert gets called for the offensive foul while trying to score against Devin Booker in the deep post pic.twitter.com/49oinYY1D1
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) March 30, 2023
Gobert was upset by the foul disparity after the game. Phoenix took 27 free throws to Minnesota's 12 while the Timberwolves were called for 24 fouls to the Suns' 16. Booker had three more foul shots than the whole Timberwolves team.
Rudy Gobert accuses the NBA of trying to help the Suns, Warriors and Kings win
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) March 30, 2023
“It’s bullshit. It’s bullshit. It’s not fair. It’s really not fair. Every night. I’ve been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard for me to think… pic.twitter.com/krXKFSkbY8
"It’s hard for me to think they’re not trying to help [the Suns] win," Gobert said after the game. "It’s hard for me to think they didn’t try to help the Warriors win the other night or Sacramento Kings the other night. It’s just so obvious."
Minnesota has another day to rest up and drink fluids before they face the resurgent Lakers on Friday night.
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