Minnesota T-Wolves Blog – Page 6 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert set for return to Utah

Tomorrow, Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert will face his former team, the Jazz, as a visitor in Utah for the first time. Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Gobert said he has never been in the visitor’s locker room of the arena, and Friday is going to feel at least a little “weird.” The Wolves already faced the Jazz in Minnesota, and that was different for Gobert, but Friday he’ll a crowd that used to cheer him on for nearly a decade.

“I just want to enjoy the moment,” Gobert said. “There’s a lot of people that I have a lot of love for over there. There’s a lot of great memories. … I just want to enjoy the moment and, of course, get a win.”

Gobert helped the Wolves do that Wednesday against Indiana when he hit the go-ahead free throws and came up with a game-saving block on Buddy Hield to seal the win. Those plays were a part of Gobert’s 16-point, 21-rebound night.

It was one of Gobert’s best games in Minnesota, a game in which he might have been able to win over some of his teammates’ trust. Also on his side were the fans, who serenaded him with chants of “Rudy, Rudy,” in the final moments.

The Jazz are 15-12 this season, while the Timberwolves are 12-12.

FULL ARTICLE

Timberwolves sign Matt Ryan, waive A.J. Lawson

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Matt Ryan to a two-way contract.

And in a preceding move, the Wolves waived guard A.J. Lawson.

Ryan, 25, most recently played 12 games this season for the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game. His best game of the season came on Nov. 2 at New Orleans after finishing with a career-high 11 points, including connecting on three three-pointers and two rebounds. Ryan played one game for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22 and totaled three points and one steal. The 6-6 forward played in 30 career G League games (20 starts) and averaged 19.4 points on 46.9% shooting, including 41.3% from deep, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

The White Plains, N.Y. native spent time at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and ultimately finished his collegiate career at Chattanooga. In 134 college games (62 starts), Ryan totaled 1,058 points, 333 rebounds and 121 assists.

Ryan will wear #37 for the Timberwolves, becoming the first player in franchise history to sport #37.

Injury update on Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns who suffered a lower leg injury at the 5:25 minute mark of the third quarter yesterday at Washington:

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken today at Mayo Clinic Square by Dr. Kelechi Okoroha on Towns confirmed a right calf strain. He will be sidelined indefinitely and reassessed in several weeks. Further updates to his progress will be issued when available.

In 21 games (all starts) this season, Towns is averaging 20.8 points on 50.5% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

Timberwolves sign A.J. Lawson to a two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard A.J. Lawson to a two-way contract.

In four games (all starts) this season for the College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawks G League affiliate, Lawson, 22, averaged a team-best 22.3 points on 62.3% shooting, including 52.9% from three, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 36.9 minutes per game.

Lawson played on the Dallas Mavericks entry in the 2022 NBA Summer League where he averaged a team-high 15.6 points on 51.9% from the field including 50.0% from three and 6.0 rebounds per game. Additionally, the 6-6 guard played 10 games (all starts) this past summer for the Guelph Nighthawks of the Canadian Basketball League (CBL) and averaged 16.5 points on 44.3% shooting and 5.4 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game.

The Toronto native saw action in 33 games (26 starts) for the Skyhawks last season where he averaged 11.8 points on 48.1% shooting and 6.3 rebounds. Lawson played three seasons at the University of South Carolina where he totaled 1,153 points, 325 rebounds and 167 assists in 81 games (80 starts).

Lawson was originally signed to a two-way deal with the Wolves on July 27, 2022 before being waived on Oct. 15, 2022.

He will wear #00 for the Timberwolves.

Timberwolves off to a 5-6 start

The Timberwolves are 5-6 this season, and perhaps had a bit of a wakeup call Monday that could help set a tone for things to come. Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

In some good news for the Timberwolves, and they could use some after the Knicks blew them out of Target Center on Monday night, center Rudy Gobert cleared COVID-19 protocols, practiced Tuesday and is available to play Wednesday against Phoenix.

That could help their defense, which is No. 9 in terms of defensive efficiency, but looked disinterested in making the Knicks work Monday.

That prompted guard Anthony Edwards to say the team was “soft” after the game, and they were likely developing that reputation around the league.

For Gobert, who spent the last two games watching from home, the Wolves need to concentrate on doing the “little things” right — like communication and playing with urgency on a consistent basis.

FULL ARTICLE

Timberwolves set to face the 7-0 Bucks tonight

The 4-4 Timberwolves face the 7-0 Bucks tonight. Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

With two days off between their games against Phoenix and Milwaukee, the Timberwolves were able to get in a practice Thursday, and coach Chris Finch said the Wolves’ primary focus was in one area.

“Ball movement,” Finch said. “… Pretty much all we did was ball movement stuff.”

Anyone who has watched the Wolves over the last week can see this is one of the biggest issues they have. There is plenty of standing around, dribbling and isolation offense.

Their hope to improve on offense won’t get any easier on Friday night when unbeaten Milwaukee visits Minnesota and brings to town the No. 1 most-efficient defense in the league. The Bucks are allowing 101.3 points per 100 possessions, three points better than the next best team — the Lakers — entering Thursday.

The Wolves have the 23rd-rated offense (109.9).

FULL ARTICLE

Timberwolves waive Eric Paschall

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived forward Eric Paschall.

Paschall, 6-6, originally signed a two-way contract with the Wolves on July 30. He spent last season with the Utah Jazz where he averaged 5.8 points on 48.5% shooting and 1.8 rebounds per game in 58 games (three starts). During his rookie campaign with the Golden State Warriors in 2019-20, he saw action in 60 games (26 starts) and averaged a career-best 14.0 points on 49.7% shooting, a career-high 4.6 rebounds and a career-best 2.1 assists. He was named to the 2019-20 NBA All-Rookie team following his play during his first season. In three seasons with the Jazz and Warriors, Paschall has tallied 1,552 points and 509 rebounds.

The Timberwolves roster stands at 16 players.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised the fourth-year options on guard Anthony Edwards and forward Jaden McDaniels.

Edwards, 21, wrapped up his second season in the NBA after appearing in 72 games (all starts) and averaged 21.3 points on 44.1% shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a team-high 1.5 steals in 34.2 minutes per game. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, led all second-year players in scoring with 22.7 ppg (tying for 19th league-wide), while leading all sophomores last season in 40+ point games (3) and tied for the most 30+ point games (9). The Atlanta native led all second-year players in three-pointers made per game (3.0) and total points (1,533), ranked third in total steals (105), fifth in total blocks (46) and ninth in total rebounds (343).

Highlights from Edwards’ second season included scoring 40 points (14 in the fourth quarter) on 14-of-27 shooting, including 5-of-13 from three and nine assists during the Wolves’ 109-107 win against Portland on Jan. 25. The performance marked his second 40+ point game of the season (fourth career). He added a season-high-tying three blocks and three steals to become the first player in NBA history to reach 40 points, nine rebounds, five three-pointers, three blocks and three steals in a single game. With his fourth career 40+ point game, Edwards tied Luka Dončić and Kevin Durant for the second-most 40+ point games in NBA history before turning 21 years old. In his 100th career game Edwards notched 38 points on 14-of-21 shooting, including a career-high and franchise record 10-of-14 from deep during Minnesota’s 124-107 win at Denver on Dec. 15. He became the youngest player (20 y, 132d) in NBA history to connect on 10+ threes in a game. Additionally, with his 38 points during that game, he eclipsed 2,000 career points, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in his first 100 games at age 20 or younger, joining Carmelo Anthony, Dončić, Durant, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Zion Williamson.

McDaniels, 22, enters his third season in the NBA after finishing up his second year where he appeared in 70 games (31 starts). He saw increases in almost every statistical category, averaging 9.2 points on 46.0% shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.8 minutes per game. Among all rookies, the Federal Way, Wash. native ranked third in total blocks (54) and fifth in blocks per game (0.8). The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-9 forward from the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 20, 2020. He was drafted in the first round (28th overall) by the Los Angeles Lakers of the 2020 NBA Draft.

A highlight from the Federal Way, Washington native’s second season included registering a career-high 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting, marking his second career game with 20+ points on Jan. 30 vs Utah. There has been only one other player in Timberwolves history to shoot perfect from the field (min. nine field goals attempted), joining Dante Cunningham on Feb. 2, 2013 vs. New Orleans Hornets.

Timberwolves waive Matt Lewis, Emmanuel Mudiay and Phillip Wheeler

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard Matt Lewis, guard Emmanuel Mudiay and forward Phillip Wheeler.

Lewis, 6-3, spent last season with the Iowa Wolves where he appeared in 32 regular season games (all starts) while averaging 11.1 points on 42.7% shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He most recently played for the Timberwolves’ entry in the 2022 2K23 NBA Summer League where he saw action in five games (one start) and averaged 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Lewis ranks among the career leaders in several categories at James Madison, including third in points (1,928) and eighth in assists (341).

Mudiay (MOO-dee-ay), 6-3, played in two games for the Sacramento Kings last season. In seven seasons in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Utah Jazz and Kings, Mudiay has tallied 3,299 points, 884 rebounds and 1,143 assists throughout 302 games (165 starts). The Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo native was named to the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after appearing in 68 games (66 starts) while averaging 12.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game for the Nuggets. Mudiay spent part of the 2021-22 season playing for Žalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania.

Wheeler, 6-6, spent time last season in the NBA G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Mexico City Capitanes where he saw action in eight games (two starts) and combined to average 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. The Rumson, N.J. native spent the rest of the 2021-22 season with the Quebradillas Pirates in Puerto Rico, averaging 16.9 points on 51.3% shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Timberwolves sign Matt Lewis, Emmanuel Mudiay and Phillip Wheeler

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Matt Lewis, guard Emmanuel Mudiay and forward Phillip Wheeler.