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.
Lack of energy and effort dooms Timberwolves in loss to Pistons despite Ant’s career-high 53 points
Timberwolves Stumble Against Pistons Despite Edwards’ Career Night
The Minnesota Timberwolves hit a new low on Saturday night, dropping a game to the Detroit Pistons despite a career-high 53 points from Anthony Edwards. This loss marks the team’s third straight defeat and brings their record to an even .500, a far cry from preseason expectations.
While Edwards’ performance was nothing short of spectacular, shooting over 50% from the field and a blistering 67% from three-point range, it wasn’t enough to overcome the lackluster effort from the rest of the squad. The Wolves’ defense, which had been the primary bright spot of the past few weeks, allowed 119 points to a Pistons team missing key player Jaden Ivey.
The rebounding battle was particularly concerning, with Minnesota losing the glass war by 14, giving up 13 offensive rebounds along the way. This discrepancy speaks to a larger issue of effort and energy that has plagued the team in recent games.
Lineup Concerns Persist for Chris Finch
The starting lineup continues to be a point of contention. While head coach Chris Finch has shown flexibility in his crunch-time lineups, the same five players continue to start games together despite diminishing returns. It may be time to consider shaking things up from the opening tip to inject some life into the team’s early-game performance — something that he was less than excited to address in his postgame media availability on Saturday.
Looking Ahead: Clippers Clash
The Wolves face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. Despite being favored by three points, this game presents a significant challenge, especially with Kawhi Leonard primed to take the court for the second time this season after returning to the Clippers’ lineup over the weekend.
Minnesota has had success against the Clippers this season, winning both previous matchups, albeit without Kawhi on the court. However, with the team’s recent struggles and the return of Leonard, this game could be a real test of the Wolves’ resilience and ability to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing loss.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Timberwolves’ recent struggles and upcoming matchups, tune into the Locked On Wolves podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Wolves Podcast:
• A detailed breakdown of Anthony Edwards’ 53-point performance
• Concerns about Jaden McDaniels’ development and contract situation
• Preview of the upcoming back-to-back games against the Clippers and Pelicans
Jan 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) greets Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before a game at Frost Bank Center. | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Casting a cursory eye up and down the standings this weekend, I noticed some appearances that made me take a second look. This went for teams for climbing and sliding. So, I’m introducing a potentially recurring feature called “Monday movers”, highlighting teams jostling and jockeying in the standings, likely bound to get more contentious as the season goes on.
San Antonio Spurs
What a thrill it must be for long-suffering Spurs fans to take a glance at the West’s top 10 and see their team there, after so many seasons spent hanging around the bottom of the conference. What a thrill it was for me, too!
It’s not all because of Victor Wembanyama, but the phenom did hit two milestones this weekend: he played his 100th NBA game and he turned 21. His in-game numbers are similarly worth celebrating.
He’s the first player since Shaquille O’Neal to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds before turning 21, and the 7th player in the last 45 years to score over 2,200 points (he’s scored 2,278) through his first 100 games. Other than Bill Walton and Brad Daugherty, Wembanyama’s the only other 7-foot center with 385+ assists before turning 21, though their first 100 games. He’s also put up more threes than Steph Curry did, with 225 to Curry’s 200 through their first 100 games.
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 The Timberwolves face the Clippers in a crucial matchup. The game preview highlights key players and strategies to watch, setting the stage for an intense contest. Don’t miss the detailed breakdown of what to expect. (Canis Hoopus)
Roster Timberwolves promote Jaylen Clark following his impressive 32-point performance in Iowa. The team’s decision could bring a new dynamic to the roster. Check out more about Clark’s call-up. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Anthony Edwards returned to scoring form, but the Timberwolves still struggled. Analyzing the reasons behind the team’s lack of cohesion can provide deeper insights. Dive into the full analysis. (Sports Illustrated)
Trades The Jimmy Butler vs. Heat saga escalated quickly: Here’s what we know. (ESPN)
Biz Amazon adds Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki to its inaugural studio coverage for the 2025-2026 season. (The Athletic)
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
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