Summer League: Wolves Being an Undefeatable Team, a Mind-blowing Win Was Expected But All Expectations Were Cut Short…

The game began with a frantic pace, typical for Summer League, leading to six turnovers within the first six minutes. Josh Minott scored Minnesota’s first five points, while leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rob Dillingham were initially quiet.

Philadelphia’s aggressive defense disrupted Minnesota’s offense, forcing the ball out of Dillingham’s hands and employing zone coverage that left the Timberwolves struggling. By the end of the first quarter, Minnesota was shooting poorly, and Dillingham and Shannon had only two attempts between them. Daishen Nix led the scoring for the Wolves, primarily from free throws, in a foul-heavy first quarter where both teams combined for 18 fouls.

At halftime, the Sixers led 48-46, despite Minnesota’s offensive challenges. Leonard Miller shone with 15 points and nine rebounds, dominating the offensive glass.

The Wolves’ defense, usually strong, faltered in transition, leading to a decisive 21-6 run by the Sixers in the third quarter. Heading into the fourth, the Wolves trailed by 16 but mounted a comeback with a 15-4 run. Despite closing the gap, a critical offensive foul by Dillingham in the final seconds thwarted their efforts, and they lost by two points.

Key players like Minott, Nix, and Miller had notable performances, but turnovers and fouls marred the game. Dillingham and Shannon struggled, with Dillingham ending with ten points and seven turnovers, and Shannon with just nine points.

After this loss, the Timberwolves dropped to 10th place in the Summer League standings with a 2-1 record. They face the Houston Rockets next, needing to finish in the top four to advance to the semi-finals. If not, they’ll play a final game without playoff implications on July 20th or 21st.