It has been a whirlwind of a last four games for the Minnesota Timberwolves. It started last Wednesday against New Orleans who was missing their star Zion Williamson. The Timberwolves took care of the Pelicans 122-101 to stay undefeated at the Target Center.
The Wolves then hit the road Friday to play their first group play game of the in season tournament in San Antonio. To shortly explain the In-Season Tournament it begins with a round robin of four games against four teams in your group. These games played on Tuesdays and Fridays count towards the regular season standings and your group standings. If you win your group by having the best record or finish as the best second place team in a group you advance to the knockout rounds which culminates in a final four teams heading to Las Vegas to claim the first NBA Cup. This is something the Timberwolves should be looking to win not only for financial incentives but to build momentum for a group of players that hasn’t won a playoff series together. They came out strong in their first group stage game surviving a great shooting performance by Victor Wembanyama who scored 29 of the Spurs 110 in a loss. Both of Minnesota’s stars in KAT and ANT showed out this game with KAT going on an absolute tear in general this week. The Timberwolves moved to 1-0 in group play after winning 117-110.
Soon after the Timberwolves took their winning streak to San Francisco for two battles with the Golden State Warriors. On Sunday the Timberwolves continued their streak winning 116-110 with Draymond Green providing a few extra words for Antony Edwards motivating him to a 33 point game. As I watched the game Sunday Night this seemed like a preview for last night’s in season tournament game. News came out around noon that Curry would miss the game with knee soreness so of course shortly into the game Green found a way to be ejected like he does in a lot of no Curry games. This scuffle started with Klay Thompson and Jaden Mcdaniels and ended with Draymond putting peacemaker Rudy Gobert in a headlock on court. Personally I hope the league office takes this seriously after Mcdaniels, Thompson, and Green were ejected. Draymond has done a lot of these kinda moves in his career and it’s time he starts sitting out because of it. Onto the game the short handed Warriors were winning most of the game as KAT was the only one who could string buckets together on offense however the game ended when Mike Conley hit a three to put the Wolves up four with eight seconds left. Wolves win 104-101 and are 2-0 in group play.
The Timberwolves next game is tonight against the big 3 in Arizona and I would say this is where the win streak of seven games may end. There is no more In-Season Tournament games for the Timberwolves this week as we get to go to New Orleans Saturday before returning home Monday against the Knicks. The Timberwolves are undefeated in group play though as they look forward to two home games for the NBA Cup during Thanksgiving.
West Coast Hoops 