MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves got a big boost from their bench in a 118-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Michael Beasley had 20 points off the bench, and D’Angelo Russell returned with 22 points and eight assists after missing four games because of a left shin contusion.
Minnesota’s preferred starting lineup was back together for the first time in seven games with Russell’s return.
Injuries and COVID-19 have led to a regular shuffling of the deck for Minnesota’s lineup. Coach Chris Finch would like to go with a lineup with Russell, Towns, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt and Patrick Beverley on a nightly basis if all are available.
Before Russell’s injury, Beverley had missed games with a right ankle sprain and COVID-19 struck the team in November. With those five in the lineup, Minnesota is 12-5.
Russell had nine of his points in the fourth as the Wolves pulled away.
“Our system’s pretty easy to play in but when we don’t share the ball, nobody really looks like they’re finding their rhythm or anything,” Russell told NBA.com. “It just looks the complete opposite. Today, we shared the ball. It was kind of easy for me to just fit right in as another plug-and-play guy.”
If the season ended today the Wolves would find themselves in the playoffs. As it is the team is red-hot heading in to the All-Star break.
Saddiq Bey scored 24 points for Detroit.
The Pistons have lost eight of nine.
