Naz Reid emphasized composure, experience, and physical resilience as the Minnesota Timberwolves prepare for Game 3 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, April 23, with the series tied 1-1.
Reid pointed directly to Minnesota’s response in Game 2, where the team weathered early momentum swings. “It was super early in the game. There’s no reason to roll over,” he said. “He made a couple big plays and one threes and transition points and all that good stuff. But just being able to gather yourselves, play together, not dwell on the fact that they were making those big plays.”
He added that belief in the group’s ability to respond never wavered. “We knew at some point we were going to be able to get back in the game. Just had to stick with it, just not give up.”
Reid also highlighted how familiarity between the two teams fuels constant runs on both ends. “Yeah, potentially. Definitely plays a part,” he said. “They go on a big run, we’ll go on a big run. You got to be able to withstand those runs. They can go on a 12-0 run, we go on a 12-0 run. Just sticking with it.”
The veteran big man pointed to playoff experience as a stabilizing factor in volatile stretches. “A lot of that is composure, but also experience. We got a lot of guys who’ve been in this situation before, multiple years in a row,” Reid said. “Playoff games, playoff minutes, you kind of know what you’re going to experience.”
He also addressed teammate Jaden McDaniels’ competitive approach in guarding elite opposition. “He’s guarding the best player every night. For him, it’s a mentality thing to keep himself engaged,” Reid said. “Everybody has their own techniques and tangibles to keep themselves in the game. That’s one of them for him.”
Reid spoke candidly about playing through discomfort, noting the importance of pushing through physical challenges. “It’s just one of those moments where we were down. I’m like, this is my group. I got to do what I do best and show out,” he said. “Just saying forget it and just keep going.”
He also emphasized how home court energy could influence Game 3. “We might have the best sixth man in the league and that’s our crowd,” Reid said. “To be home playing against Denver, I know the fans want it just as much as us.”
Reid closed by reinforcing Minnesota’s mindset heading into a pivotal game. “Stay even-keeled regardless,” he said. “We feel like it’s 0-0, and that’s what’s kind of helped us and triggered us to have that mindset.”
