Chris Finch breathes fire after 'disgusting performance' in loss to Hornets

The Timberwolves lost despite a 62-point effort from Karl-Anthony Towns.

During the first half of Monday night’s game between the Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets at Target Center, almost all eyes were on Karl-Anthony Towns, who put on a dazzling display and set a franchise record with 44 first-half points.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch had his attention elsewhere.

“What I said at halftime was, ‘Why don’t we start getting back to being who we are, play some defense and not let this game fall down to a point where we miss a bunch of shots and they make a bunch of shots and then we’re behind.’ That’s what I said at halftime,” Finch said.

The message was not received.

Finch's warning was exactly how the game played out and despite a 62-point effort — another franchise record — from Towns, the Timberwolves ended up dropping an ugly game, falling 128-125 to the lowly Hornets.

Finch was quick to point out what lost Minnesota the game.

“It was an absolutely disgusting performance of defense and immature basketball all the way through the game,” Finch said. “So, it really didn’t slip away, it had been there from the jump. This is what happens when you have this type of approach.”

The Hornets outscored the Timberwolves 36-18 in the fourth quarter and never had trouble scoring the basketball throughout the contest, posting 32 points in each of the first two quarters and being held under 30 only in the third when they scored 28.

“I kept imploring them to try to compete, play some defense, switching back between man and zone, anything to contain the ball. … Messages weren’t getting through,” Finch said.

Finch said he could tell from the beginning of the game — on the bench and in the huddles — that it was just one of those nights where the defensive effort was lacking. In the end, that lackluster effort on that side of the basketball resulted in the Wolves wasting a historic performance from Towns, not to mention losing their second straight game, both of which should have been Timberwolves wins. 

“We totally disrespected the game, ourselves and we got exactly what we deserved,” Finch said. 

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Jan. 20, 2024 :: Jesse Johnson / USA TODAY Sports