Randle, Reid Spark Timberwolves to Nervy Win Over Wizards
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The Minnesota Timberwolves built a 27-point cushion Wednesday night but still needed late stops to beat the Washington Wizards after their lead shrank to five in the fourth quarter. With starting forward Jaden McDaniels sidelined by a sprained left wrist and Anthony Edwards mired in a shooting slump, newcomers Julius Randle and Naz Reid combined for 60 points and 15 rebounds to secure the victory.
Edwards went 6-for-20 from the field and 1-for-8 from deep, dropping his four-game three-point clip to 10% (3-for-30). Randle, signed in July, acknowledged the uneven finish. “We got lucky, to be honest,” the forward said. “Our edge, our activity, our aggressiveness—we left it in here at halftime. We’ve got to be better and more mature than that.”
Reid, whose five-year, $125 million contract was the largest deal signed in free agency this summer, echoed the sentiment. “It’s still an NBA team,” he said of Washington. “We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
Reid’s Form Trending Up
After averaging 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds on 42.1% shooting over his first 11 games, Reid has posted 20.3 points and 8.8 boards while hitting 55.2% of his shots, including 48.3% from three, in his last four outings. “He’s a starter coming off the bench for us,” guard Donte DiVincenzo said. “The way he spaces the floor and handles the ball gives us a unique wrinkle.”
McDaniels’ Iron-Man Streak Ends
McDaniels missed his first game in nearly two years, halting a run of 157 consecutive regular-season appearances. Head coach Chris Finch said imaging on the injury was “relatively clean,” and the team will gauge how the wrist responds to treatment over the next few days.
Beringer Headed to G League
Rookie center Joan Beringer, who turned 19 last week, has logged 37 minutes across nine NBA games, all in late-game situations. Finch said the organization plans to assign the first-round pick to the Iowa Wolves soon to secure regular playing time.
Source: Hoops Rumors
