A night after securing their second (and most impressive) win of the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves traveled south to Los Angeles for a pseudo-double header between the Lakers (Sunday night) and then the Clippers (Tuesday night). ).
The endorphin rush stemming from Saturday’s stunning victory over the Utah Jazz leaked Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, especially after it was initially reported that Karl-Anthony Towns would surprisingly have a chance to play in the game against LAL, despite the fact that he would fall very hard on his left wrist the night before.
And then:
Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns has had a disruption to his left wrist and will be re-evaluated weekly based on his plan. He does not need to be operated on. A hand specialist reviewed Cities in LA today.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 28 December 2020
As you already know, Woj would report that there is ‘optimism that it will be a relatively short-term absence for Towns’, and Ryan Saunders doubles this prediction when he tells the media that KAT will be considered. ‘Week-to-week’, but the operation was (as Woj originally reported) not necessary.
For someone who thrives on optimism like I do (it’s a blessing and a curse), this news came as a huge sigh of relief, as it turns out when the injury in Salt Lake City initially occurred that Towns was indeed breaking his wrist has. several months out, not weeks.
So that was my half-full approach of the game against the Lakers, who were also without their star man in Anthony Davis due to a calf injury. That half-full glass was quickly ripped off three minutes into the first quarter, because it was then that the game not only got away from the Timberwolves, but was inevitably put to bed.
There is no point in summarizing what happened on Sunday night at the NBATV against defending champions Lakers. When the schedule appeared a few weeks back, the national TV game on Sunday night turned out to be a guaranteed ‘L’, because it’s a mix of the second night of a rugby game and that the Lakers – you know – really well. Mix in Karl’s absence due to his wrist injury and my general expectations for match # 3 were pretty low.
And yet, somehow, the Wolves failed to meet them. Kyle Kuzma started the game (and looks like an inflamed game), with LA having 14 first-quarter points, including four three-pointers. The entire Lakers squad emerged from the depths virtually early on and hit 13-of-35 3PAs, while the Timberwolves shot just 6-of-35 (17.1%)
To offend the injury, Josh Okogie left the game in a second quarter with an apparent (and fairly serious) hamstring or knee injury, although it was later announced that Josh was simply experiencing cramps, according to Timberwolves PR:
Status update:
Josh Okogie, OUT for the game with cramps
– Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) 28 December 2020
While that would still be a big sigh of relief on the injury front, the situation with YOU is still worth monitoring, especially if you think the team originally announced Towns as QUESTIONABLE for Sunday’s game before downgrading him went to OUT for a number of weeks. Regardless of the severity (or lack thereof) of Josh’s injury, two injuries to two starters in less than 24 hours is a pretty disastrous road to a 2-0 start to the season, and it falls to head coach Ryan Saunders and his coaching staff to preach a ‘next man up’ mentality until both Josh and Karl can return.
The Wolves will remain in LA to begin the final week of 2020 as they prepare for the other resident of the Staples Center – the Los Angeles Clippers – who came off their own public humiliation earlier Sunday when they lost on the same floor to the Dallas Mavericks has. by 51 (yes, fifty-one). The Clippers will no doubt be motivated to get the taste of the historic loss out of their mouths, and what better way to do that than against a subordinate and cocky Minnesota Timberwolves group!
On a much lighter (and slightly more optimistic) note, when the Wolves left for this challenging three-way trip, I tweeted that it would be a big plus for the team to somehow steal one game and return to Target Center to play. .500 ball, and after the Jazz surprised in Salt Lake City, Minnesota would have just reached it.
The proclamation did not contribute to losing one (or perhaps multiple) appetizer due to semi-long absence, but nonetheless, the Wolves must return home for their game against the Wizards on Friday night with at least a record of 2-2, and depending on how towns progress with his rehabilitation, the 2020-2021 season may not be serious yet (or so I hope).
Game notes:
- After not teaming up for any of the Wolves’ first two games, Juancho Hernangomez finally (literally) came on board against the Lakers and scored his first official basket (s) of the 2020-2021 season, scoring the game by 6 points ended. and 5 rebounds (in 13 shortened minutes).
- Junacho’s PF brothers – Jake Layman – were not much better, scoring 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and collecting 3 rebounds in the 15 minutes he played. Ryan Saunders emptied the bench early in Sunday night’s blowout, so it’s hard to get really much information about their performance, but a simple eye test will tell you that both players are pressing at the moment and that they’ve Jarrett Culver’s rookie’s confidence at seasonal level when they ‘re on the floor. With Towns being put out of action week-by-week, the Wolves will need both of these guys to see if they keep the boat going, and if none of the signs of life show up, it might be time to give Rondae Hollis-Jefferson call a little (we still have his number, right?)
- Speaking of power forwards – Jayden McDaniels made his NBA debut late Sunday night in the fourth quarter and suddenly hit two quick (and very smooth even!) Three-pointers. The former Washington Huskie also carved two steals and a setback in the garbage dump, and despite appearing to be about 160 pounds dripping wet, I thought the rookie did some very interesting things in the eight minutes he there was, flashed. McDaniels just turned 20 in September and was considered a project when the Wolves selected him late in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft, but if the team still gets nothing from their PF brigade, it could be worth it. be worth shooting to throw McDaniels at the wolves (no pun intended) and see how he responds.
- Marc Gasol caught up with the Lakers with a team of 8 assistants and 4 blocks, despite playing just under 21 minutes. Like many other players currently in the Association, it looks like Gasol is still playing himself in a game form, but if he can regain some of the form he had during his tenure at the Toronto Raptors, the defensive champion even more likely to repeat next summer.