Minnesota T-Wolves Blog – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Rockets notes after beating Timberwolves 121-115

With the win tonight, the Rockets split the season series against the Timberwolves 2-2. Houston is 3-1 over its past four games after losing a season-high six straight prior while Minnesota has lost three of its past four games after winning its previous three games.

Houston scored 121 points, marking its first game with 120+ since scoring 135 at Cleveland on 1/25. Minnesota has allowed 120+ points in two of its past four games after doings so once the 15 games prior. The Rockets are 14-2 when scoring 120+ this season while the Wolves are 1-7 when giving up 120+.

The Rockets held the Wolves to 11 3FGM on 38.9% shooting. Minnesota averaged 10.0 3FGM on 26.3% shooting in its two losses to Houston this season compared to 18.5 3FGM on 45.1% shooting in its two wins. The Rockets have held opponents to 31.3% shooting from behind-the-arc over the past 11 games after the opposition shot 39.2% the 19 games prior.

Houston outrebounded Minnesota by 13 tonight after the Wolves outrebounded the Rockets by an average of 3.0 rpg in the first three meetings. The Rockets have outrebounded their opponent by double-digits in four of the past eight games and a league-high 19 times overall this season (15-4 mark).

Jalen Green had 35 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range. He has scored 25+ points in 14 of the 24 games since the start of January after doing so eight times the first 32 games of the season. Houston is 9-0 when Green scores 30+ points this season.

Alperen Sengun had 24 points and 13 rebounds. It is his third straight double-double and his 33rd in 53 games played this season after recording 29 in 63 games played in 2023-24. Sengun had a total of 27 points in the final three games heading into All-Star break after averaging 23.3 ppg the three games prior.

Jabari Smith Jr. had 15 points and 9 rebounds in 38 minutes of play tonight after missing the previous 22 games due to injury. The Rockets are 10-1 when he scores 15+ points this season. Smith shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range tonight. Over his last 21 games played before getting injured, he averaged 2.0 3FGM on 41.2% shooting.

Anthony Edwards had 37 points on 32 shot attempts and scored 3 points on 1-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter. It is the tied for his second-lowest point total when having 30+ shot attempts in his career. Edwards averaged 32.8 ppg on 42.7% shooting in the four games vs. Houston this season. He is averaging 37.0 ppg over his past six games played.

Injury updates on Timberwolves players Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo

The Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday (Thursday) announced the following injury updates on guard Donte DiVincenzo and forward Julius Randle:

DiVincenzo, who suffered a left great toe injury on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the end of the Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors game, has been cleared for non-contact basketball activities.

Randle, who suffered a right groin strain on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the 10:12 minute mark of the second quarter during the Timberwolves at Utah Jazz game, has been cleared for full-contact, 5-on-5 basketball practice activities.

Both DiVincenzo and Randle’s game availability will remain as out as they continue to progress through their return-to-play rehabilitation programs.

Injury update on Timberwolves forward Julius Randle

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on forward Julius Randle, who suffered a right groin strain on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the 10:12 minute mark of the second quarter during the Timberwolves at Utah Jazz game:

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken at Mayo Clinic by Dr. Kelechi Okoroha on Randle revealed a right adductor strain and was confirmed via second opinion by Dr. Benjamin Domb of American Hip Institute. Randle will be re-evaluated in two weeks, and further updates of his progress will be provided when available.

Injury update on Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who suffered a right foot injury on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the 1:26 minute mark of the third quarter of the Iowa Wolves vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers game:

Shannon Jr. has been cleared for full-contact, 5-on-5 basketball activities, and will be listed as Questionable on the Status Report for tomorrow’s game against the Washington Wizards.

Injury update on Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on guard Donte DiVincenzo, who suffered a left great toe injury on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the end of the Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors game:

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken at Mayo Clinic by Dr. Kelechi Okoroha on DiVincenzo revealed a Grade 3 left great toe sprain. DiVincenzo is out indefinitely, and he and the Timberwolves are currently seeking a second opinion to determine the best treatment options going forward. Further updates of his progress will be provided when available.

Injury update on Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on guard Rob Dillingham, who has been sidelined the past eight games due to a Grade 2 right lateral ankle sprain:

Dillingham has been cleared for full-contact, 5-on-5 basketball activities, and subsequently has been assigned to the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League Affiliate, for a rehab assignment.

Timberwolves add Tristen Newton off waivers

The Minnesota Timberwolves last week (on January 3) claimed guard Tristen Newton off waivers.

In a related move, the Timberwolves have waived two-way guard Daishen Nix.

Newton, 6-5, has appeared in five games with the Indiana Pacers this season. He has also spent time with the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League where in 10 games this year, he averaged 17.0 points on 42.4% shooting, including 41.4% from deep, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 36.1 minutes per game.

The El Paso, Texas native played five years collegiately between Eastern Carolina University and the University of Connecticut, including winning two NCAA championships at UConn. In his final season at Connecticut, Newton was named the 2024 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, 2024 Associated Press BIG EAST Player of the Year, 2024 Bob Cousy Award winner and was selected as a 2024 Consensus First Team All-American and 2024 Unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST. In five collegiate season, he averaged 12.8 points on 40.2% shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 31.6 minutes per game.

Newton was originally drafted by the Pacers with the 49th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Timberwolves waive PJ Dozier

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard PJ Dozier.

Dozier, 6-6, appeared in nine games this season for the Wolves, totaling seven points, five rebounds and five assists.

Prior to his time with Minnesota, he played for Partizan in Serbia last season where he appeared in 33 EuroLeague games, averaging 9.2 points on 48.6% shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Prior to playing overseas, he spent the 2022-23 season with the Sacramento Kings, appearing in 16 games, totaling 22 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

In seven seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Kings and Timberwolves, Dozier has tallied 700 points, 337 rebounds and 204 assists throughout 130 career games (six starts).

On the leadership skills of Anthony Edwards

Per the Pioneer Press:

This Timberwolves roster is different than the one from a year ago. That much is obvious in games, as Karl-Anthony Towns’ consistent scoring and general size is missed, as is the playmaking and ball security of guys like Kyle Anderson and Jordan McLaughlin.

But their absences have been felt in the locker room, as well. Towns was a consistent source of positivity for the team. Anderson was one of the loudest vocal leaders. The latter can be especially difficult to replace, especially because it can be uncomfortable to speak up when things are going poorly and something needs to change.

That was the position Anthony Edwards has found himself in early this season. Edwards has been praised for his leadership through his first four years on Minnesota’s roster. Mostly, that all came via positivity and example. Edwards can be coached hard, which gave the greenlight for the coaches to treat everyone else the same way.

Timberwolves sign Trevor Keels, Jaedon LeDee, Skylar Mays and Eugene Omoruyi

The Minnesota Timberwolves recently signed guard Trevor Keels, forward Jaedon LeDee, guard Skylar Mays and forward Eugene Omoruyi.

Keels, 6-3, spent the 2023-24 regular season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Timberwolves, appearing in 39 games (31 starts), averaging 14.1 points on 44.1% shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.7 minutes of action per contest. The Clinton, Md. native has appeared in three career games, all with the New York Knicks, tallying three points and two rebounds. Keels was originally drafted by the Knicks with the 42nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

LeDee, 6-7, was a member of the Timberwolves entry in the NBA 2K25 Summer League 2024 where he appeared in five games and averaged 2.6 points on 50.0% shooting and 2.0 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. The Houston, Texas native played in 154 games (43 starts) during his collegiate career, with stops at Ohio State, Texas Christian University and San Diego State, owning collegiate career averages of 8.9 points on 52.8% shooting and 4.7 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per contest. LeDee was named the Mountain West Player of the Year and awarded the Karl Malone Award following his 2024 season at San Diego State.

Mays, 6-3, appeared in 38 games (five starts) for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers during the 2023-24 season, averaging 4.1 points on 39.6% shooting, 1.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 17.0 minutes per contest. Since being selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 50th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Baton Rouge, La. native has appeared in 105 NBA games (16 starts) with career averages of 4.3 points on 44.5% shooting, 1.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 10.6 minutes per game. Mays also appeared in nine games during the 2021 and 2022 NBA Playoffs, all with the Hawks.

Omoruyi, 6-6, spent last season with the Washington Wizards, appearing in 43 games, averaging 4.8 points on 48.5% shooting and 2.0 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. The Toronto native has appeared in 87 career games (six starts), splitting time with the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Wizards, owning averages of 5.7 points on 46.0% shooting and 2.3 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per contest.