The Timberwolves vs. Suns game 2 was the greatest game I’ve ever been to. Everyone in the crowd wore white T-shirts to create the ‘whiteout’ atmosphere.
All the fans, resilient in the face of disappointing seasons, were now hungry for another playoff win in a season where the Wolves have felt the magic all year. The crowd’s energy was infectious, reaching a deafening 1.11 decibels at one point, equivalent to an indoor rock concert or a jet plane engine roaring during takeoff.
Everyone got a free ‘howl towel’ along with the free playoff t-shirts, and whenever the wolves went on a run, the in-arena host would tell everyone to wave their towels. Watching everyone wave their towels in unison was fascinating.
The second half was crazy when Minnesota started to pull away, building a 10-point lead in the third quarter and then, later in the fourth, a 19-point lead. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns had relatively poor shooting nights, but they were covered by Jaden McDaniels, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gobert’s excellent performances. Mike Conley, who went 1/11 shooting in game 1, exploded for 18 points (14 of those in the first half), four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels were easily the most impactful players in the game. Jaden McDaniels had the best game of his career, posting a playoff career-high 25 points, eight rebounds, three rebounds, and incredible defensive possessions on the Suns stars Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant. Rudy Gobert was also huge, putting up 18 points, eight rebounds, three steals and a block. His monster defensive impact was one of the biggest reasons Minnesota could pull off the victory.
The Wolves won 105-93, causing the fans to cheer and scream even after it ended. I lost my voice because of how loud I was. It was a game Wolves fans will remember for a long time.
