The No. 1 team in the West wins, Simmons is injured again!
On February 25, Beijing time, the NBA's regular season began, and now the Timberwolves, who are at the top of the Eastern Conference, will play the Bucks at their home court. Prior to that, both Minnesota and Thunder had a 39-17 record, but Minnesota had a better record than them, so they were in first place in the West. In the past 10 rounds, the Timberwolves have the highest defense and the highest net efficiency in the league, and they have won 34 points against the Mavericks, 24 points against the Bucks, and 21 points against the Clippers. The Timberwolves have had the best defense in the league this season, but they have only seventeen offenses, compared to the league's average of just 20 goals per game, which is only an upper-average level in the league. Edwards averaged 26 per game3 points, while Downs is sitting on the bench 225 points, and this team lacks a solid Big Three.
Due to the salary pressure this summer, the United States speculates that the University of Minnesota has a good chance of selling Downs because Downs is 4 years 2The $2.4 billion contract is already the league's highest suspension period, and for the '27-28 season, Towns could get $62.06 million, plus a 10% trade guarantee, and it's best to sell him this summer. According to the legendary Scott, they intend to build a new roster to surround Bridges this summer, either through negotiations or by bringing in one or two star players in a free trade. The Bucks' lineup is: Simmons, Thomas, Bridges, Fanney-Smith and Claxton.
Minnesota's starting lineup is: Conley, Edwards, McDaniels, Lee Kyle, Downs. Gobert missed the game with an ankle injury. Lee Kyle scored four points in a row, Bridges and Simmons took turns scoring, Towns scored easily from the baseline, and the two teams went back and forth, with Thomas constantly suppressing Conley and chasing the score to the end. Bridges' breakaway, Conley's dunk shot, Claxton, Johnson, Schroder's two three-pointers put the Timberwolves in trouble! After the Bucks led by 10 points, in the second minute, the Timberwolves won 11-0 in two minutes with assists and assists from Edwards to win 23-22 over the Bucks.
In the second quarter, Conley's consecutive three-pointers and Lonnie Walker's three-pointers patched a wound for the Bucks, Reed's defense was given a foul, Claxton also easily got a cookie, Lee Kyle and Bridges also joined the offense, Claxton was fouled, Towns then added an axe, and the two sides played several rounds! In the second half, Bridges and Schroder took turns to break through, Downs and Edwards shot back-to-back, Thomas made a long layup, Downs hit two free throws, and Claxton also got two rebounds. The Bucks led Minnesota 45-42 in the first half. Downs scored 15 points, Edwards had eight and Conley had eight. For the Bucks, Simmons had two six rebounds, Bridges had 10 four rebounds, and Thomas had eight six rebounds.
Downs hit a three-pointer in the second half, killing two birds with one stone! Thomas made a blue attempt, then handed Simmons a street fight to the blue, and Lee Kay followed with a three-pointer from Edwards to call the Bucks a timeout. Clarkson broke the ball in the middle, Conley and Lee Kyle kept shooting, and Edwards sprained his ankle, but his body didn't hurt too much, and he made a beautiful turn for a layup after a steal. Led by Schroder and Johnson, they began the chase for Minnesota, with Morris and Johnson exchanging three-pointers, and Edwards also hit two free throws at the end of the quarter, giving Minnesota a 70-66 victory over the Bucks after three quarters. Ben Simmons withdrew from the game due to an injury to his left foot.
In the fourth quarter, Thomas led the team to a 6-0 rebound, Reed's open shot, McDaniels' three-pointer, and Thomas's three-pointer. Downsley made a sudden move, and the Bucks suddenly stopped attacking. With five minutes to go, the Foresters erupted, Towns made a layup, McDaniels made a three-pointer, Lee Kyle grabbed an open spot, and Bridges continued to hold the lead with a three-pointer, but towards the end, both sides erupted: Schroder pushed Conley, which also included McDaniels, and the Bucks' Smith and Lonnie Walker. In the end, the University of Minnesota won 101-86 against the Bucks! After this game, the Timberwolves went 40-17!
Minnesota's Edwards had 29 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks, Towns had 28 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Conley had fourteen three rebounds and three assists, and Lee Kyle had twelve nine rebounds and three assists. Bucks: Thomas 18 points and 6 rebounds, Claxton 12 7 rebounds 3 assists, 11 11 rebounds, Bridges 11 9 rebounds, 15 6 rebounds, Johnson 10 7 rebounds, Simmons 4 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.