There has been a gap in basketball in Minneapolis since the Minnesota Lynx were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury, but that small hiatus ends tonight. The Minnesota Timberwolves
were back in action tonight, facing their ever-present rival in the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets and Wolves have faced off frequently in the past few years, be it through in-division matchups or playoff series (the Wolves have not lost a series to the Nuggets since entering the 2023 playoffs as an 8th seed).
Still, tonight was about more than just the on-court performance. It represented another year of what has rapidly become the best era of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball. While that is certainly not saying a lot, the Wolves are expected to continue to build on back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances. With a 23-year-old Anthony Edwards at the forefront of a well-balanced roster, this season may hold the biggest challenge yet.
There are so many things to keep track of, from the young talent that may be expected to contribute sooner rather than later to the veterans that need to hold on just a little longer, and it seems about time we get back to that.
With all that being said, welcome back, fans, welcome back basketball, and, folks, let’s get to it.
Game Summary
The game’s start was defined by the Wolves’ defense forcing turnovers. While Nikola Jokić earned six quick points, the rest of the Wolves put up 40 points in the first period. Bones Hyland surely had this game circled on his calendar (who doesn’t? It’s the first game of the year) as he had a massive start.
As the game went on, the preseason became more pre- than season, and yet, there were still fun moments from Joan Beringer in the form of an alley oop dunk or Rocco Zikarsky talking a whole lot to the sideline (and learning how to defend Jamal Murray in real time). The Wolves’ rotation will likely not feature Rocco, but Beringer’s fit seems just about as seamless as it can be when one Frenchman replaces another.
For the other young guys, Jaylen Clark continues to be the most promising replacement for offseason departure Nickeil Alexander-Walker. His shot-blocking prowess as a small guard, along with the core strength to slow down guards and forwards alike, could land him a specialist role. For Terrance Shannon Jr., it was much of the same: fast break attacks and the occasional pressure valve 3-pointer.
Lastly, with Mike Conley Jr. out, Rob Dillingham had all eyes on him. There’s no way to extrapolate real, long-term information from four quarters of preseason basketball. While there’s little that popped off the screen, Rob was certainly a part of the Wolves’ assist-laden start, which saw them cash in 17 assists before committing a single turnover. Dilly had eight assists and three turnovers.
While Summer League has left the young guys more present in our short-term memories, preseason is the first time we’ve seen many of last season’s prominent Wolves. Without Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, or the aforementioned Conley, the focus was on the only two starters left in Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, along with the now highly compensated Naz Reid.
Before the game got lost in the shuffle, the Wolves put up 72 points in the first half and did a relatively decent job slowing down the Nuggets. Jaden McDaniels saw a more ball-dominant role in this one without the two leads of Minnesota’s offense. His screen navigation on defense has always been excellent, but the assist he provided to Gobert in a rare offensive pick-and-roll surely has fans excited.
Stories to Watch
- The continued growth of Rob Dillingham – Bones Hyland was once seen as a cornerstone of the Nuggets’ young bench mob. While that vision clearly fell through, Hyland looked awfully good for someone who is not expected to be in the rotation this year. Dillingham, being a functional player, would be a big step forward after a year in which he was borderline unplayable if he wasn’t hitting his threes, but this season hinges on him. For the first time in his NBA journey, there are big expectations. Hyland’s success does not change that, but it does worry the non-believers.
- The Joan giveth, and the Joan taketh away – Beringer was always supposed to be a project, and his first quarter showed how true that diagnosis was. His first minutes saw him manhandled by the bear of a man Jonas Valančiūnas, only for him to return with a few impressive finishes from dump-offs and lobs. His need isn’t immediate, but anything he can show this year would make a potential end of the Rudy Gobert era far less impending or intimidating.
- Donte Divincenzo is back– If Donte Divincenzo has a repeat of last year, he would be just as disappointed, if not more, than the fanbase that expected so much more from him last year. With Rob Dillingham’s best skill being creative angles for finding 3-point shooters and Anthony Edwards’ undeniable gravity, his return to form would do so, like the one he had tonight, so much for a team that needs the offensive equivalent of a life vest and swimming wings.
Up next
The Timberwolves come home to play their first game at Target Center on Tuesday, October 7, against the Indiana Pacers. It is one of two home games on the Wolves’ preseason schedule. The game begins at 7:00 PM CT with fans being able to watch on FanDuel Sports Network.
