SALT LAKE CITY – Mike Conley knew Saturday was going to be a busy day. This was the first time he has played in Utah since the team traded him last season to the Timberwolves, and he wanted to make sure everybody at the arena that wanted to say hello got some time with him.
Timberwolves beat Jazz behind Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley
Anthony Edwards led the way with 31 points while Mike Conley saved one of his best performances of the season for his former club.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
March 17, 2024 at 12:33PM
So for a little while in the afternoon, he shut his phone off and tried to take a nap.
“I knew that once I got to the arena, I was going to be swarmed,” Conley said.
Maybe the only normal part of his day was actually playing, and Conley had 25 points in a 119-100 Wolves victory.
Two games after saying he felt like he was running “in the mud” as he struggled to score, Conley posted a season-high 23 against the Clippers on Tuesday and followed that with another season high on Saturday.
“I guess I’m out the mud,” Conley said.
Conley tried to play it off afterward that his highest scoring output of the season coming in Utah was just a coincidence, but he also conceded there was some extra motivation going up against a team that traded him midseason.
“There was a little bit [of extra motivation]. Not gonna lie,” Conley said. “But at the same time, man, I was trying to have fun. … Just trying to soak up the moment. You get a video played and that doesn’t happen very often and it just shows so much gratitude.”
Before the game, the Jazz played a tribute video to Conley to thank him for his four seasons in Utah before it was down to business. If they were trying to play with his emotions, it ended up not working, although the Wolves started off rusty after not playing for three days. They found their rhythm — and their shooting — in the second half.
Without Rudy Gobert (bruised left rib) and Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee surgery), the Wolves shot 36% in a first half that was tied 48-48. Anthony Edwards had 14 points in the first half as he was some of the only offense going for the Wolves. With his game-high 31, Edwards passed Kevin Love for most 30-plus point games in a season in team history with 26.
“That’s dope, but it don’t mean anything,” Edwards said. “Especially if we don’t do nothing at the end of the postseason. That’s what we working towards right now.”
In the second half, the Wolves shot 59%, including 13-for-23 from three-point range, and they pulled away through the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters.
“I told the guys at halftime we were rusty, but won’t be in the second half,” said coach Chris Finch, who earned his 150th victory (150-121) as Wolves coach. “But we had to pick up the purpose. We got to the paint. Made the right play. A lot of good passing combinations. Easier to shoot when you do that.”
The first play of the second half was a set for Conley to come off a pair of screens. He nailed a three from the left wing, and that seemed to set the tone for the rest of the half. Finch said the Wolves have been trying to use Conley off the ball more in an attempt to ignite his scoring. That play was an example of that. He had four of his five threes in the second half.
“It puts me in more of a scoring mindset when I’m running off of pindowns and I know it’s for me to shoot the ball,” Conley said. “When I’m in pick and rolls, I’m thinking about 12 different options and trying to make plays, trying to get guys open and so just splitting that time a little bit more now is helping me stay aggressive offensively.”
Naz Reid, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds starting at center for Gobert, said the 36-year-old Conley was looking like “young Mike” again.
“You can tell he’s having fun,” Reid said. “Keeping him active. He’s dancing with us. He’s excited. He’s happy and it turns over to his play.”
Shortly after Conley exited the Wolves locker room, he made his way down a dark hallway of the Delta Center. His family was not far behind him. But there were still plenty of hands to shake, plenty of words of catching up with security guards and arena personnel who were there to see him off. He made sure to stop for everyone.
“Even if I miss a little bit of my shooting time, or I’m a little bit behind on stretching or whatever-point it is, I’m gonna make sure I make my rounds,” Conley said. “Show my gratitude and say hello to everybody.”
It was about as good of a return as Conley could hope.
“Just wanted to go out there and put on a good show,” he said.
Naz Reid led the Wolves with 25 points off the bench, Anthony Edwards added 21 and Minnesota made sure Charlotte didn’t leave Target Center with another victory.
