All Things 2023-2024 Minnesota Timberwolves In-Season Thread

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BleedGopher said:
I think it's safe to assume the Wolves will win this weird tournament and then get bounced in the first round of the real playoffs, because, well, Minnesota...

Howl Wolves!!
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In the entire history of the NBA, no team that has won the In-Season Tournament has gone on to win the NBA championship.

I don't want to tempt fate.
 






12-4 Wolves host 11-5 Thunder

This is from today's Strib.


Watch him: Thunder center Chet Holmgren. After a foot injury cost the Minnehaha Academy star all of what was supposed to be his rookie season, he is in the Rookie of the Year race for this season. His play (18.1 points, eight rebounds, 2.3 blocks per game) is a big reason the Thunder are neck and neck with the Wolves for the top record in the Western Conference. Holmgren is shooting 44% from three-point range on four attempts per game.

Injuries: Jaden McDaniels (right ankle sprain) and Jordan McLaughlin (right knee sprain) remain out for the Wolves. Guard Jalen Williams (hip) is questionable for the Thunder.

Forecast: Aside from Holmgren, the Thunder don't have the size to match the Wolves, and they will have to beat the Wolves with their quickness. But Oklahoma City is loaded with talent, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (30.4 points per game) is putting together another All-NBA season. Tuesday should be a fun contrast in styles between two good teams.

www.startribune.com

Top of the West: Holmgren returns home with Thunder to face Wolves

Chris Hine's breakdown: Chet Holmgren and the Thunder are the Wolves' final NBA in-season tournament opponent.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com
 







Timberwolves' Cohesive Defense, Interior Presence Prove Too Much for OKC Thunder​

In each team's final NBA In-Season contest, Oklahoma City fell 106-103 to Minnesota.

With the top two teams in the West facing off, the No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (11-6) was bested 106-103 to the No. 1 Minnesota Timberwolves (13-4) inside Target Center on Tuesday night.

This was the fourth and final contest for both teams in the NBA In-Season Tournament, leaving the Thunder at 1-3 and the Timberwolves at 3-1 in group play, retaining an opportunity to reach the knockout rounds in early December.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fronted the scoring load for Oklahoma City, notching 32 points on the night on 13-of-22 shooting and 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Returning from injury for his first night back in 10 days, Jalen Williams added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Rookie Cason Wallace was impressive in his 17 minutes, posting 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting.

Chet Holmgren struggled from the field, shooting just 6-of-20, but still produced 16 points points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Minnesota's Anthony Edwards posted a team-high 21 points with three 3-pointers before leaving the game early due to a heavy fall on a dunk attempt.

Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns were a tough duo to nullify for Holmgren on the interior ultimately, as the pair combined for 30 points and 26 rebounds.

Naz Reid was vital for Minnesota as well, providing 15 points and seven boards..

 

www.espn.com

Timberwolves 106-103 Thunder (Nov 28, 2023) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA game from November 28, 2023 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.
www.espn.com www.espn.com


Gobert just as importantly played lockdown defense against Holmgren, a Minneapolis native and the second-overall pick in the 2022 draft playing his first pro game in his hometown.

Gobert played one of his most complete and inspired games since joining the Timberwolves before last season in a widely criticized trade with Utah that sent four first-round draft picks and the rights to 2022 first-round selection Walker Kessler to the Jazz.

The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year was determined not to let the 21-year-old Holmgren — they're both 7-foot-1 — get the best of him. Holmgren, who played at Minnehaha Academy High School and Gonzaga, was sidelined for all of last season with a foot injury.

During one possession late in the fourth quarter, Gobert was all over the paint with a long arm in Holmgren's face — twice forcing him into missed shots, including an air-balled jumper from the top of the key. Gobert pumped his fist after each miss with the Timberwolves up 95-90..
 
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It was a win/win tonight!

The wolves won!

And aren't we done with these hideous play in courts? Or are there more? damn, that blue court was gross!
 



Gobert was really playing some solid defense against OKC.

looked dicey when Ant went down and Kat got into foul trouble, but Troy Brown Jr suddenly decided that it's OK to make a basket once in a while.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
Gobert was really playing some solid defense against OKC.

looked dicey when Ant went down and Kat got into foul trouble, but Troy Brown Jr suddenly decided that it's OK to make a basket once in a while.
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they need McDaniels back. NAW is hurting us on the offensive end. He was 1-7 last night and 2-8 in the loss the Kings.

Troy Brown Jr is awesome when he is scoring off the bench. He doesn't back down, either on defense.
 


Ski U Mah Gopher said:
The 2 newly scheduled games to make up for not making the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament:

12/6 vs San Antonio
12/8 @ Memphis
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and those count on our record, right?

If so, what a gift! We get what should be two cakewalks, while teams who make the tourney could be facing losses.

This tournament thing is a joke.
 
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kg21 said:
and those count on our record, right?

If so, what a gift! We get what should be two cakewalks, while teams who make the tourney could be facing losses.

This tournament thing is a joke.
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The original schedule had 80 games. The quarterfinals and semifinals were games 81 & 82 for the teams that make the QF. The quarterfinal losers will meet on the home court of one the teams for their 82nd game.
 

kg21 said:
and those count on our record, right?

If so, what a gift! We get what should be two cakewalks, while teams who make the tourney could be facing losses.

This tournament thing is a joke.
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How do you know if something works unless you try it?
 

kg21 said:
they need McDaniels back. NAW is hurting us on the offensive end. He was 1-7 last night and 2-8 in the loss the Kings.

Troy Brown Jr is awesome when he is scoring off the bench. He doesn't back down, either on defense.
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True and any game they win with Kyle Anderson playing more than 10 minutes is a good win.

Don't know when he became such a stiff but seems that lately he's far more of a liability than an asset. He's yet to see a situation where he doesn't think he can pass the ball in there.

And he's usually wrong.
 


kg21 said:
and those count on our record, right?

If so, what a gift! We get what should be two cakewalks, while teams who make the tourney could be facing losses.

This tournament thing is a joke.
Click to expand...

The Tournament is a joke. Why didn't the best team in the West not make the next round? Point differential. 8 teams went 3-1. Five were "eliminated".

But the Wolves didn't get a gift.The Wolves have the best record in The Western Conference at 13-4. The best record in the NBA belongs to the Celtics at 14-4 and the Wolves beat the Celtics. For that, the two games they were given were games against the worst records in the West.

Seems like they should have earned a spot in the next round because they were the best team but that's not how this strange tourney works. Instead they get those two games.
 

Iceland12 said:
The Tournament is a joke. Why didn't the best team in the West not make the next round? Point differential. 8 teams went 3-1. Five were "eliminated".

But the Wolves didn't get a gift.The Wolves have the best record in The Western Conference at 13-4. The best record in the NBA belongs to the Celtics at 14-4 and the Wolves beat the Celtics. For that, the two games they were given were games against the worst records in the West.

Seems like they should have earned a spot in the next round because they were the best team but that's not how this strange tourney works. Instead they get those two games.
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I'll take the two wins.
 


tmvander said:
Yeah it isn't my 500k on the line so I'll take the two easier games and potentially a better seed in the real playoffs.
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That's going to happen someday if they keep this thing. A series is going to go to 7 games, and one team is going to have home court, because they played two loser teams while the other played two strong teams.
 

Wolves host the Utah Jazz. The Jazz lost by 14 to the Grizzlies last night in Memphis. Utah played without Dunn and Markkanen. They may not play tonight either. Hope the Wolves will rest Edwards too.

MInnesota Timberwolves

NAMEPOSEST. RETURN DATESTATUSCOMMENT
Anthony EdwardsSGNov 30Day-To-DayEdwards (hip) didn't participate in shootaround ahead of Thursday's game versus the Jazz, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Jaden McDanielsPFNov 21OutMcDaniels (ankle) will be re-evaluated in one week with a 2-3 week recovery timeline, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Jordan McLaughlinPGNov 20OutMcLaughlin (knee) was spotted during Monday's shootaround getting shots up while sporting a knee brace, Jace Frederick of St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Jaylen ClarkGJul 8OutThe Timberwolves are preparing for Clark (Achilles) to miss at least the first half of the 2023-24 season, Jace Frederick of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.


Utah Jazz

NAMEPOSEST. RETURN DATESTATUSCOMMENT
Kris DunnGNov 29Day-To-DayDunn will not play in Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies due to personal reasons, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Lauri MarkkanenPFNov 28OutMarkkanen (hamstring) will not play Wednesday against
 

Timberwolves 84 Utah 66 after 3 Quarters.

Wild 5 Nashville 0 with 1:35 left in the 2nd Period
 

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