With the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat tipping off their regular season against one another in just eleven days, Chris Finch and Erik Spoelstra decided that revealing their cards by playing their main rotation players was too big of a risk. So instead of Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball vs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, we got Joan Beringer and Bones Hyland vs Pelle Larsson and Simone Fontecchio.
And you know what? It turned out to be a pretty fun game!
For the Wolves, this meant a night off for their starting group plus Ayo Dosunmo. With the rest bench crew getting some extra run tonight, it was a great chance for players fighting for minutes to make an extra impression on the coaches. Who was able to do it? Well, read on!
Two Stats That Defined The Game:
- +75: This was the combined plus/minus stat from the starting group. Even in a game that the squad would go to lose, Hyland (+16), Shannon (+17), Clark (+17), Lyles (+9) and Beringer (+16) all played. Considering those are the projected next five on the rotation, that matters a lot more than the deeper bench struggles that let Miami back in the game before Antonio Reeves’ eventual game winner with 2.3 left on the clock.
- +9: Fast break point advantage for the Wolves. A lot of the other counting stats ended up falling close together (not surprising in a one point game), but fast break points are going to be a stat that is worth keeping a close eye on all season as this team’s identity continues to form into a more up-pace unit.
Game Awards
Big Ticket Award: Joan Beringer
The Big Ticket Award is named after the franchise GOAT and is given to the best player on the floor for the night. Tonight, Beringer flashed all of those skills that make him such a tantalizing prospect. Dunks, monster blocks, running and finishing in transition, and even some work driving from the top of the key and drawing contact. He finished the night with a stuffed stat line:
- 10 points (5/6 FG)
- 7 rebounds (2 OREB)
- 1 assist
- 5 stocks (4 BLK)
Even though it was backups for both teams, there was still requisite NBA talent on the floor and Beringer, quite literally, leapt off the screen with his play on both ends. While the Miami broadcast crew may have struggled mightily with his name (yes, more on that later), they couldn’t help but gush as he began to stack impact play after impact play. If Beringer can continue to bottle those moments while limiting the cheap fouls, there will be a whole lot more gushing from opposing broadcast teams as they begin to get to know the young Frenchman.
The “Quick! To the Well!” Award: Bones Hyland
Cause he’s a bucket. Get it?
Bones could have easily taken home the Big Ticket award tonight as he was absolutely lights out tonight shooting, finishing the night with 23 points on six of nine field goals, including a scorching five of six from deep. Performances like this are going to put a lot of pressure on the coaching staff to find regular rotation minutes for him as it’s an interesting push and pull with TJ Shannon presumably taking more of the backup point-of-attack duties.
What was clear tonight is that Bones is a player that knows his game and has full confidence. And while I don’t want to read too much into a game against backups and fringe NBA guys, his defense was noticeably solid tonight. He moved his feet and stayed in front of his man, never overreacting to quick moves or hesitation dribbles like so many do with less experience.
The “I Miss You So Much It Hurts Sometimes” Award: Timberwolves Broadcast Crew
That’s right – an award given to people who were across the country! Look, it’s a preseason game on an opposing team’s broadcast. There are going to be mistakes. But between the “Berh-Ann-Gee”s and “Jaden Clark”s, this was just another broadcast crew that is a reminder about how good we as Wolves fans have it. One of the best parts of the transition to the regular season will be to get to hear Jim Pete and (insert partner of the night) voices again.
Empty the notebook
- Most interesting to me about TJ Shannon’s night was his shooting a couple of midrange jumpers with Miami defenders hanging a bit deeper off screens. Considering the… let’s say consistency… of his hard drives to the left, that midrange (and three-point) shooting is going to be an important counterpunch. Finished with a nice 19 points, six rebounds, four assists stat line on 8 of 16 shooting.
- After a couple encouraging preseason performances, Cody Williams had his worst night of this young season with a one of seven shooting from the field, -17 performance.
- Isaiah Evans flashed some good! A couple nice hustle defensive plays (a weak side block and tip away in transition) and knocking down three triples.
- Isaiah Evans flashed some bad! Blown by a handful of times on defense and turned the ball over under increased ball pressure. Such is the life of a rookie.
- Zyon Pullin continues to impress. He was the go-to guy down the stretch, finishing the game with 22 points on seven of nine shooting.
- Antonio Reeves! A game-winning floater just like Chris Finch drew up.
Game highlights
Up next
The Wolves hop on a plane and fly north to the concrete jungle to visit Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks on Monday, 10/12 at 6:30pm CT. The game will be on NBA TV.
