Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch highlighted his team’s toughness and execution in a 127–120 win over the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on Friday. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo were central to the victory, with Finch emphasizing their contributions down the stretch.
“I thought we played really tough in and around the paint, finished extremely well, forced issues in there,” Finch said. He credited DiVincenzo for clutch shots, including a game-tying basket when the Wolves were down three and a go-ahead 3-pointer with 28 seconds left.
Finch acknowledged DiVincenzo’s slow start. “He got off to a tough start shooting, but we had to involve him more. In the second half, it was very intentional to get him going because we knew we’d need him,” he explained.
The coach praised Gobert’s dominance on both ends. “Rudy was huge—11-for-13, finished extremely well with a bunch of dunks, played through contact, outstanding defensively. One of his best efforts this season,” Finch said.
Finch also highlighted the impact of Terrence Shannon Jr. and Bones Hyland before Hyland exited early. “TJ gave us speed, got downhill, loosened up our offense, and Julius handled multiple ball-handling responsibilities effectively,” he noted.
Short-handed rotations provided opportunities for young players, according to Finch. “Rob and Terrence got important minutes in a fire fourth-quarter situation. Rob competed well defensively and made a few key shots. Those are the minutes we need to see from them,” Finch said.
Finch emphasized team composure amid pressure. “They tried to trap us, and aside from one low pass, we were way more composed. The next time, Julius found Donte, and that led to the go-ahead shot,” he said.
He praised situational decision-making, including Rob Dillingham’s ability to create for himself. “He’s got to get there first, use his speed, and make the right play when he gets to the paint. That’s part of his finishing package,” Finch said.
The Timberwolves overcame the absence of Anthony Edwards and bench injuries to improve to 16–9. Minnesota will host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, while the Warriors travel to Portland to face the Trail Blazers.
