Entering into their matchup with the Orlando Magic, the Minnesota Timberwolves were No. 6 in the league in points in the paint and No. 15 in rebounding. The Magic would turn those strengths into weaknesses in their 108-102 win at home on Tuesday.
For the star-laden Timberwolves who were riding a five-game win streak, this game seemed like a walkover against a Magic team that possessed the longest losing streak in the NBA at 7 games. What they didn’t expect was that unheralded centers Khem Birch and Bismack Biyombo would dominate their one-two punch of Karl-Anthony Towns and Taj Gibson, one of the most formidable inside duos in the league.