Wolves Seek Offense Boost Against Warriors in Game 2

Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Timberwolves are determined to even their second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night. After a disappointing offensive performance in Game 1, the Wolves are looking for more production from their star players, particularly Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle.

In addition to their top performers, Minnesota is counting on two struggling bench players, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, to contribute offensively. So far in the playoffs, DiVincenzo has made just 7 of 38 attempts from three-point range, which translates to a mere 18.4 percent. This puts him at 93rd out of 94 qualified players. Alexander-Walker has also struggled, shooting 20 percent on 5 of 25 attempts, ranking 91st.

Both players have experienced a significant drop in shooting compared to the regular season, where DiVincenzo hit around 40 percent of his threes, and Alexander-Walker shot 38 percent. These percentages have historically been consistent, as both players have excelled in their shooting roles over the past three seasons.

“Honestly, at the end of the day, I understood one thing: the law of averages,” Alexander-Walker said. “The more that I stress it, the more that I worry about finding it, the more that I get in my head, the further I get from actually doing so.”

He emphasized the importance of staying confident and continuing with his routine: “I come in every day, get on the table at 7:30 in the morning, do my treatment, shoot, come back, lift, shoot again. So nothing’s changed on my end. Just waiting on the ball to go in.”

Acknowledging the pressures of the playoffs, Alexander-Walker reflected on how mental factors can affect performance: “There could be a little internal added pressure of ‘OK, I have to do something to produce more than I was in the regular season.’”

As the Wolves prepare for Game 2, the focus is on finding a balance between urgency and sticking to their successful strategies. With a critical game ahead, they aim to improve their energy levels while minimizing mistakes. For DiVincenzo and Alexander-Walker, this means maintaining their shooting confidence and taking open shots.

Tip-off for Game 2 is at 7:35 p.m. CT at the Target Center in Minneapolis.