The Timberwolves traded the beloved Ricky Rubio twice in his career, the first time for a draft pick in 2017 and the second time for forward Taurean Prince, among other considerations.
Timberwolves put together total team victory, top Nuggets 130-115
Taurean Prince finished with 23 points off the bench, Karl-Anthony Towns came close to another triple-double, and the Wolves moved back above .500 this season.
February 2, 2022 at 1:28PM
Earlier this season it wasn't always easy for Wolves fans to watch as Rubio thrived in Cleveland before tearing his left ACL, while Prince struggled to stay in the rotation for the Wolves.
He was coming off ankle surgery and getting used to a new coach and a new defensive system.
But as the surging Prince knocked down six three-pointers in a 130-115 victory over Denver on Tuesday, fans behind the bench at Target Center were more than happy to greet him with a standing ovation.
"I saw him be a little frustrated at times with his shotmaking or maybe his role," coach Chris Finch said. "But he always stayed ready, always stayed super professional, asked what he could do to get back on the floor, get back in the rotation and he's done that."
Tuesday was not an isolated incident for Prince, who finished with 23 points. His play has improved and he has become a staple of the rotation over the past few weeks. Prior to this stretch, he approached Finch to discuss what he could do to get his minutes back.
"I'm not a selfish person," Prince said. "So I didn't want to get in the way of what the team was trying to get to at that point. So I waited for the right moment and just asked him."
Prince said Finch told him to relish guarding the best player on the floor. He did as Finch said, and he said Finch kept his word.
"Even if we weren't players, just man to man, I think that allows you to gain respect for somebody," Prince said of Finch. "One, [for him] to be able to tell you what you're not doing good enough and then me being able to receive it, apply it and get better."
Prince's night complemented 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Karl-Anthony Towns, who turned in a solid second half against Nikola Jokic. Jokic, despite being listed as questionable to play entering the night, had 21 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists. But while Jokic got his, it didn't matter because most of the Wolves' roster got theirs. Patrick Beverley returned from a sprained ankle to score 11 as the Wolves had seven players in double figures — and Anthony Edwards was not one of them.
On a night D'Angelo Russell was still out and Edwards scored only five, the Wolves might have otherwise been in trouble. Not Tuesday, when the Prince-led bench played as well as it did in a 39-23 second quarter and Jarred Vanderbilt turned in 18 points and nine rebounds. Edwards seemed appreciative of the easy night.
"My knees needed it, baby," an excited Edwards said as he went to the locker room.
Prince scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the second quarter as the bench allowed the Wolves to open the quarter 30-9, a run that essentially ended the game. There were no starters among that unit of Prince, Naz Reid, Jordan McLaughlin, Jaylen Nowell and Malik Beasley, and Finch said he might look to keep them together going forward. The ball movement was crisp, the decisionmaking quick and the dunks thunderous. Naz Reid scored 10 of his 12 points during the second quarter as the Wolves shot 14-for-24.
"We always have an upside when we play together," Reid said. "We know what we need to do when we go in."
It's not always easy to accomplish that. That wasn't the case Tuesday.
"I've said many, many times, this team really likes each other," Finch said. "They really root for each other. They're fun to be around, they have fun with each other. It's just like every one's game had to settle into a roll."
The Timberwolves’ bench depth hasn’t been tested this year, but their bench quality has been a huge asset. It was on display once again in a comfortable win over Charlotte on Monday.
