Ben Beecken here, the host of the daily Locked On Wolves podcast, with your daily Locked On Wolves newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Wolves and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Minnesota Timberwolves comeback falls just short as Boston Celtics hold on
Timberwolves Show Resilience Against Celtics: A Closer Look
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics faced off in a thrilling Sunday matinee, with the Wolves ultimately falling just short following a furious comeback.
After a tough loss to the Toronto Raptors last time out, the Timberwolves bounced back with a spirited performance against one of the NBA’s top teams. Trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half, the Wolves clawed their way back and had a shot to tie or win the game on the final possession, but Naz Reid 3-point attempt bounced harmlessly off the rim.
Rob Dillingham’s Breakout Performance
One of the standout moments in the Wolves’ loss to the Celtics was the best performance of Rob Dillingham’s young career. With Mike Conley sidelined due to a sprained toe, Dillingham seized the opportunity to shine. He played a crucial role in the Timberwolves’ comeback, contributing 14 points in just 16 minutes on the floor.
His energy and quickness were evident, as he fought through screens and made smart plays on both ends of the court. Dillingham’s ability to inject life into the game was a key factor in the Wolves’ resurgence, and his performance has certainly made a case for more rotation minutes in the future.
Defensive Struggles and Key Takeaways
Despite the loss, there were several positive takeaways for the Timberwolves. The team showed resilience, especially in the fourth quarter, where their defense tightened up, forcing the Celtics into rushed possessions and contested shots. Rudy Gobert was instrumental in this defensive effort, using his length to disrupt Boston’s offense. Gobert’s presence in the paint was a significant deterrent, plus, he pulled down 20 rebounds against a diminutive Celtics frontcourt.
However, the game also highlighted plenty more areas for improvement. The Timberwolves experienced lapses in focus once again when it came to transition defense, which allowed the Celtics to capitalize on fast-break opportunities.
Overall, the Timberwolves’ performance against the Celtics was a step in the right direction. While they didn’t secure the win, it was definitely a step in the right direction compared to last Thursday’s disconcerting loss to the Raptors. For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ strategies and performances, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
- Analysis of Anthony Edwards’ performance and his role in the team’s dynamics.
- A breakdown of Rudy Gobert’s defensive impact and rebounding prowess.
- Discussion on the Timberwolves’ offensive strategies and areas for improvement.
- Insights into the team’s upcoming matchups and what to expect.
It was the three second violation heard round the world. Kidding, but it was strange enough that you looked to confirmation of what you were seeing to those around you, and/or rewatched the replay of it several times.
Posted up under the Raptors basket, Rudy Gobert had Scottie Barnes on his back in a mismatch and was calling to Julius Randle for the ball. Beyond the arc. Randle dribbled the ball, unhurried, as the shot clock ticked down. He’s eyeing the lane, would clearly prefer to drive, and even plants a foot to take off from when the whistle finally comes for Gobert, strolling out of the key nonchalantly, with all the urgency you’d approach a dental appointment.
Still frustrated, Gobert then needlessly hip-checked Barnes at the other end, sending him to the line and sending the Raptors up in the match and in momentum. Toronto won 110-105.
You can take your pick for what’s more worrisome, because the perspective shifts depending on the root of a few problems the Wolves face.
That Gobert opted to showboat his frustration is definitely the most obvious, in terms of visibility. It isn’t the first time he’s let his petulant side out on the floor. That Randle saw Gobert — impossible not to with his long arm up and waving — and chose to ignore him, dribbling the ball into oblivion instead, is another concern. The biggest question around the Randle and Karl-Anthony Towns trade was fit — for playing style and chemistry. A slight detail that nearly gets lost in the sequence is that Jaden McDaniels hustled for a really long rebound, swung it to Randle, and the urgency of that move was immediately sapped by what transpired.
Taken individually, these would be wrinkles for a working team to smooth by the next match. And yes, both Randle and Gobert addressed the sequence, with Randle prompting media to “name a perfect family” and Gobert saying “people think great teams are the teams where the sky is always blue”. Normally, I’d enjoy an athlete beginning with a euphemism, in this case, it feels like aversion.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards headline the Timberwolves’ clash with the Celtics. Naz Reid’s performance will be crucial for Minnesota. Detailed analysis and game expectations can be found here. (Star Tribune)
Replay The Timberwolves fell to the Celtics 110-107 in a thrilling game. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led Boston, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle stood out for Minnesota. Catch the highlights to see all the action. (Canis Hoopus)
Legacy Nikola Jokic continues to redefine basketball creativity with his full-court swat attempt against the Lakers, nearly achieving an incredible buzzer-beater despite the constraints of the Trent Tucker rule. (CBS Sports)
Biz NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill discusses his investment in women’s sports and managing Team USA, highlighting his active retirement and commitment to sports development. (The Ringer NBA Show)
Rumor Western Conference coaches and executives are reportedly frustrated with the East’s playoff picture, suggesting a shift to a 1-16 seeding format to enhance fairness and competition. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ja Morant Is Set To Return And Impact Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) takes videos with his phone after the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As we wrap up another thrilling week in the NBA, it’s time to reflect on the standout performances and crucial player updates that could impact your fantasy basketball strategy. With six games on the slate this past Sunday, there was no shortage of action and intrigue.
Player Updates and Injury News
One of the most significant updates this week involves Ja Morant, who has been upgraded to questionable. The Memphis Grizzlies have a consistent pattern of moving players from doubtful to questionable before they return to play, so Morant’s return seems imminent. Marcus Smart is also off the injury report, ready to make his comeback. However, the Grizzlies are still without Vince Williams Jr., who is sidelined for weeks, and Zach Edey.
In New Orleans, the return of key players is on the horizon. While Herb Jones remains out, Jordan Hawkins is back, and CJ McCollum is expected to play soon. Dejounte Murray has been upgraded to doubtful, indicating he might return later this week. These returns will undoubtedly shake up the rotations and fantasy implications for players like BJ Boston and ElfridPayton.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been idle since Wednesday, and Alex Caruso, who aggravated a hip injury, is out again. This extended absence is concerning for fantasy managers holding Caruso. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dieng’s fractured finger will keep him out for three to four weeks, opening up reserve minutes for Dillon Jones until Jaylin Williams returns.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Wolves podcasts.
Timberwolves fall to Warriors as offense sputters once again, Steph Curry dominates late The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped their second consecutive home game in embarrassing fashion, falling behind by 21 to the Golden State Warriors and needing a bench-driven comeback that ultimately fell short as Stephen Curry dominated late.
Karl-Anthony Towns dominates the Minnesota Timberwolves in return with the New York Knicks The Minnesota Timberwolves suffered an embarrassing loss at the hands of an old friend as Karl-Anthony Towns led a dominant New York Knicks performance in his return to Target Center. Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) breaks down the bad vibes surrounding the team, as well as how this game got so far off track so quickly.
Checking on Karl-Anthony Towns in New York and Timberwolves newcomers with Locked On Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns is having a career year with the New York Knicks, while former Knicks players Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have been on a roller coaster ride with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ben Beecken (@bbeecken) of Locked On Wolves discusses both ends of the trade and previews Wolves-Knicks with Gavin Schall and Alex Wolfe of Locked On Knicks.
