During the first half of Monday night’s game between the Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets at Target Center, almost all eyes were on Karl-Anthony Towns, who put on a dazzling display and set a franchise record with 44 first-half points.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch had his attention elsewhere.
“What I said at halftime was, ‘Why don’t we start getting back to being who we are, play some defense and not let this game fall down to a point where we miss a bunch of shots and they make a bunch of shots and then we’re behind.’ That’s what I said at halftime,” Finch said.
The message was not received.
Finch’s warning was exactly how the game played out and despite a 62-point effort — another franchise record — from Towns, the Timberwolves ended up dropping an ugly game, falling 128-125 to the lowly Hornets.
Finch was quick to point out what lost Minnesota the game.
“It was an absolutely disgusting performance of defense and immature basketball all the way through the game,” Finch said. “So, it really didn’t slip away, it had been there from the jump. This is what happens when you have this type of approach.”