The Minnesota Timberwolves are desperate. They need to pull out all the stops against the San Antonio Spurs.
Reid Primed for Increased Minutes
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ rotation is expected to shift. Naz Reid should see starter’s minutes. He played 16 minutes in the second half on Friday.
Of the Timberwolves’ three big men, Reid is the best fit to counter the Spurs. Reid has played five games against the San Antonio Spurs this season, and is 15-for-29 from beyond the arc, hitting at least three 3-pointers four times.
Whether it is Rudy Gobert’s or Julius Randle’s minutes that take a hit, expect Reid’s minutes to increase.
Wembanyama’s Impact
Victor Wembanyama was clearly winded late in Game 3. Minnesota should absolutely prioritise driving into the Defensive Player of the Year’s body to further that fatigue and to try to draw some fouls. Wembanyama had five fouls on Friday; challenging him a bit more often could have been decisive.
Wembanyama has grabbed 15 rebounds in all three games of the series, in part because he played 40 minutes in Game 1 and 37 minutes in Game 3. With an extra day between Games 4 and 5, there is no reason for San Antonio not to ride Wembanyama.
The Spurs know how much of a difference he makes on the court. If the game is competitive, expect Wembanyama to play 40+ minutes.
McDaniels’ Offence
Jaden McDaniels’s shot is hurting these days. It has been for months, but going 3-for-8 from deep in Game 3 may be an encouraging sign.
McDaniels is struggling in his usual favorite spot; Victor Wembanyama is the only player in the NBA with the length to bother McDaniels’ midrange fadeaway jumper. Despite that frustration, he has cleared his prop in two of the three games against the Spurs.
Minnesota desperately needs his offense. Only Wemby can bother it, which is obviously a huge caveat, but the majority of the time, McDaniels has an edge.
The Minnesota Timberwolves need to pull out all the stops against the San Antonio Spurs.