PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers played host to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday continuing to play out the string. The Sixers are currently battling for lottery positioning while the Timberwolves are battling to get out of the play-in and earn a guaranteed playoff spot in the unforgiving Western Conference.
The Sixers did their best to play spoiler on this night as they battled back from a double-digit deficit to take a lead in the third and fourth quarters. It was a terrific effort for Philadelphia when considering the circumstances, but the Wolves eventually earned a 114-109 win. Anthony Edwards had 37 points and was fantastic down the stretch for Minnesota.
The Sixers received 28 points from Quentin Grimes, 16 points and eight assists from Jared Butler while Lonnie Walker IV added 18 points and five assists off the bench. Guerschon Yabusele had 19 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals while Adem Bona pulled down 10 rebounds.
Here are the player grades following the loss:
Jared Butler: A-minus
Going up against a close friend in Mike Conley, Butler had some good moments. As always, he got the Sixers organized and got them into their sets on the offensive end and made some plays with his passing. He had a couple of nice moves to get into the paint with his own offense and he made some big buckets in the second half in order to get Philadelphia back into this one and eventually in front. He had an overall solid night against one of the better defenses he will face in the NBA.
Quentin Grimes: A-minus
It was a rare quiet night for Grimes. The Timberwolves are one of the top defensive teams in the league so it’s always tough to score on them, and they paid a lot of attention to Grimes. Minnesota loaded up a lot against him and it limited Grimes’ effectiveness which has been a tall task for many as of late. To his credit, he kept battling and eventually found a rhythm in the second half. He had a big stretch in the third and then drilled some tough triples in the fourth to keep the Sixers in the game.
Justin Edwards: Incomplete
It was a nice night for Edwards. The rookie is continuing to battle a bothersome left ankle issue while still dealing with the “rookie wall” as he works his way through his maiden season in the NBA, but he played well against a tough Timberwolves team. He knocked down some tough shots offensively and had some good defensive moments. He was ruled out at halftime due to a rib contusion.
Adem Bona: C-minus
It was a foul-filled start for Bona. He picked up three in the first half alone and that limited both his time on the floor and his effectiveness when he did play as he didn’t want to commit more fouls. Minnesota has some hulking, skilled big men so it used its advantage against him. He threw down a dunk in the second half to contribute offensively, but it was an overall tough night for him other than helping on the glass.
Guerschon Yabusele: A-minus
Yabusele was able to convert on his looks in the paint, but had his struggles from 3-point range. One has to believe that his right knee is continuing to bother him along with how many minutes he’s played in the season. Either way, he had a fine night as he continues to be a constant for Philadelphia. A negative for Yabusele was the lack of size offered against Wolves big men Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid on the defensive end. However, offensively, he was tough to guard as he has a quick first step and can get to the basket. Overall, a mixed bag for him, but he did enough on offense to be a big help.
Lonnie Walker IV: A
The night for Walker started with him knocking down a couple of early 3s which is a good sign for him as he moves forward. He has such a quick first step and is able to get to the basket with ease. If he can add a 3-point shot to his arsenal, then he is going to be tough to stop for most defenders. He did some good things for Philadelphia on the offensive end as he was able to keep the scoreboard moving for a team that was missing plenty of key pieces in this one.
Jalen Hood-Schifino: C-plus
It wasn’t a great night for Hood-Schifino. He had his struggles shooting the ball and was unable to get into the paint in this one. A big part of his game is his ability to put the ball on the floor and use his size, but he had his overall struggles in this one. There is still a lot to like about his game, but he needs a bounce back.
Colin Castleton: C-plus
The initial stint for Castleton was productive. He was efficient around the basket, helped on the glass, and made some plays with his passing. He still has a lot of work to do on the defensive end, but he has a nice offensive game. If he could add a 3-point shot, it would go a long way to him sticking in the league.
Marcus Bagley: B-minus
Signed to a second 10-day deal, Bagley received some early minutes in this one. He has an understanding of how to play so he has a chance to stick. Combine his IQ with his athleticism and there could be a future for him. He had some nice defensive plays in this one and was in the right spots on the offensive end to make an impact.