Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch highlighted Bones Hyland’s impact after Monday’s 108-83 win over the Golden State Warriors. “Huge. Not just obviously the production, which was great, but also just the pop that he played with. I liked his defense, too. I thought his defense was really good, on point,” Finch said.
Hyland scored 17 points off the bench, helping Minnesota overcome an early 13-0 deficit. Finch emphasized the importance of consistency for the guard, noting, “I think the key is staying aggressive… pushing the pace, trying to get downhill… he can finish in there and he can also find, and that’s what we desperately need.”
The coach credited Minnesota’s defensive effort as a key factor. “A step above obviously what we’ve seen recently. Desperation, of course… the guys just flying around covering for each other,” Finch said, praising the team’s rotations and commitment.
Finch noted that Golden State’s lineup without Stephen Curry required different adjustments. “With that group, you just got to keep closing out, keep containing the ball. I thought that was better for us,” he explained.
Offensively, Finch acknowledged a rough first quarter but saw improvement as the game progressed. “Getting stopped helped. Making a simple play, making the extra pass… we played fast… we tend to make quicker decisions,” he said. Minnesota finished with 29 fast-break points despite 23 turnovers.
The Timberwolves also adapted to the absence of Anthony Edwards. “He had pain from the foot that’s been troubling him… we’ll see with the back-to-back coming up,” Finch said, explaining Edwards’ late scratch.
Finch also praised rookie Joan Beringer for his court awareness. “He had pretty good feel… learning our system, learning the league… he’s been a pretty quick learner,” Finch said, noting Beringer’s need to balance aggressiveness with discipline.
Rudy Gobert anchored the Timberwolves with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Finch emphasized his importance, stating, “We need that Rudy every single night. That’s been key for us this season.”
Finch highlighted Julius Randle’s playmaking in transition and half-court sets. “I think he’s a really good passer in our half-court execution too… sometimes in transition it can be a little more random,” Finch said. Randle led Minnesota with 18 points and seven rebounds.
The Timberwolves improved to 28-19, holding sixth place in the Western Conference, while Golden State fell to 26-22. Minnesota will visit Dallas on Wednesday, and Golden State continues its road trip in Utah.
