Northwest Notes: Williams Shines in Return; Edwards Questionable; Daigneault Highlights Gilgeous-Alexander; Wolves Tackle Jokic
northwest-notes-williams-edwards-gilgeous-alexander-jokic
Oklahoma City, OK — Jalen Williams looked fully recovered from his injury-plagued regular season, posting 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in just 29 minutes as the Thunder beat the Suns in Game 1. The 6’6” wing knocked down 2-of-5 from three, disrupted passing lanes and chased loose balls, drawing an energetic response from the Paycom Center crowd.
Edwards Again Listed as Questionable
The Timberwolves have listed Anthony Edwards as questionable for Monday’s Game 2 against Denver. The same designation preceded Game 1, in which the All-Star guard still logged 38 minutes, finishing with 22 points on 19 shots, nine rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in Minnesota’s 11-point defeat.
Daigneault Praises Gilgeous-Alexander’s Defense
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s defensive impact often goes unnoticed. “We’ve had a great defense for a while now, and he plays the most minutes,” Daigneault told reporters. In Game 1, Gilgeous-Alexander paired his 25 points and seven assists with two blocks to help seal the win over Phoenix.
Wolves’ Strategy on Jokic
Containing three-time MVP Nikola Jokic remains a focal point for Minnesota. In Game 1, the Timberwolves opted to concede perimeter looks, allowing Jokic’s first three attempts to be largely uncontested. He finished 2-for-7 from distance. Nuggets acting head coach David Adelman said he expects the center to eventually make “five or six” threes if that coverage continues.
Source: Hoops Rumors
