Naz Reid set a new Minnesota Timberwolves playoff record with seven 3-pointers off the bench, during Friday night’s 109-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. His seven 3s are also tied for the third most by a bench player in NBA playoff history.

Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch benched Karl-Anthony Towns in favor of Naz Reid late in Game 2

Reid, a 6-foot-9 undrafted center, made five straight 3-pointers before finally missing. The five-year veteran tied Jaden McDaniels’ franchise playoff record (set on April 29, 2022) with five 3s made from downtown.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch left Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench in favor of Naz Reid during the last eight minutes of Game 2. At that point, Towns had shot 4-for-16 (25%) from the field while Reid had already drained his seven 3s.

Naz Reid 7th made 3 in 8 attempts, wow pic.twitter.com/eRvlwf931N

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 25, 2024

“Naz was playing well, real well and gave us some switchable combinations out there and stuff like that,” Finch said, adding that he didn’t converse with Towns about the decision during the game.

“No, I didn’t really have time to have that conversation,” he said.

However, Reid’s final 3-point attempt was unsuccessful at the buzzer, as it rimmed in and out.

Reid became the first Wolves player to win NBA Sixth Man of the Year last month

Despite the gut-wrenching loss, Reid has become quite a perimeter threat for Minnesota this season. In 81 games (14 starts) of the regular season, he averaged career highs of 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 24.2 minutes per game. Plus, the LSU product shot 47.7% from the field and a career-best 41.4% from beyond the arc.

Reid was also named the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year last month, becoming the first Timberwolves player to win the award. He became the third center to win it, joining Bill Walton (1986) and Montrezl Harrell (2020).

Additionally, the New Jersey native became the third undrafted player to win the award, joining John Starks (1997) and Darrell Armstrong (1999). Reid edged Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk.

Reid and Monk had the same number of second-place (39) and third-place (10) votes. The finalists had only a 10-point difference (352 to 342) between them. Reid received 45 first-place votes, while Monk had 43.