“I’m pretty good on that end of the floor, and I live for those moments,” Gobert said. “It’s what I do best. I was frustrated for sure, but decisions. Coach made decisions, and we’re living with that.”
The Heat ran a series of screens between the three-point line and halfcourt, and both Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker said it is their strategy in that situation not to switch on screens before the ball is inbounded.
But on the replay, it appears Edwards got caught on a screen, and Alexander-Walker had to switch onto Nikola Jović, who had a step on him. Jović raced to the hoop and got the layup plus a foul on Alexander-Walker.
“I was a little hesitant to just go,” Alexander-Walker said. “I think at that point, with the clock situation and everything, all bets are off, I guess, and you just have to take it. When I read it late, at that point I probably should’ve just wrapped him up, but I tried to make a play for it.”
Alexander-Walker hardly has any reason to hang his head. He had 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting, and it was his defensive energy forcing missed shots and turnovers that enabled the Wolves to build their lead to as much as eight in the second half. In fact, it was a surprise when Finch opted to sub Conley back in for Alexander-Walker with 2 minutes, 34 seconds to play. Finch has closed games this season with Alexander-Walker over Conley.
“I probably should’ve stuck with Nickeil, he was playing really well,” Finch said.
