:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/52Y7VLSJPJCWRAB4DMV3GRDRIA.jpg "Timberolves beat Pistons 106-91; They reach 50 wins for the 5th time in 35 seasons")
MINEEAPOLIS (AP) — Naz Reid had 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels added 20 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves bounce back from a sluggish start and beat the world-worst Detroit Pistons 106-91 on Wednesday. NBA team of the season.
Kyle Anderson contributed 14 points off the bench to offset star Anthony Edwards’ timid nine-point production for the Wolves (50-22), who began the day in third place in the Western Conference with one more loss than Denver and Oklahoma. City.
The Wolves reached the 50-win mark for the fifth time in 35 seasons, equaling the franchise’s third-most, with 10 games remaining in the season.
Minnesota’s best record was 58-24 in the 2003-04 season.
Cade Cunningham scored 32 points for the Pistons (12-61), who lost for the eighth straight time. With nine games left, they have the fourth most losses in their 76 years as a franchise. The worst record (16-66) was established in 1979-80.
The Wolves improved to 40-4 when allowing fewer than 110 points, and 7-3 without star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who is recovering from a torn meniscus in his left knee.
This will be the fifth consecutive season without Detroit in the playoffs. The Pistons last won a postseason series in 2008, when they defeated Orlando in the second round to advance to the conference finals for the third time under Flip Saunders.
Saunders, who died in 2015 from cancer, was also the Wolves’ coach when they last won a postseason series in 2004.