The Wolves are slowly but surely getting healthier heading into the All-Star
break.
Jeff Teague is probable, Jerryd Bayless and Derrick Rose are questionable and
Tyus Jones is doubtful. Robert Covington remains out. Unfortunately, Andrew
Wiggins was also added to the injury report with an illness. While those guys
might not be back tonight, it’s nice to see them getting back on the court, and
their presence has given the team a lift after a tough road trip.
In Monday night’s contest against the Clippers, the Wolves are going to need a
lift wherever they can get it. The Clippers currently hold the No. 8 seed in the
West and despite having just traded their best player, are a deep and
competitive team. Getting a quality win tonight would go a long way to helping
the Wolves shake off their road woes of the past week.
That starts on the defensive end. While the Wolves have been game-planning for
the Clippers, they are more focused on their defensive fundamentals.
“We focused a lot on us. On trying to take care of our defense,” said Interim
Head Coach Ryan Saunders. “We spent a good amount of time yesterday on that.
Offensively we’ve been able to score the ball, but we know our defense has to
improve.”
The Wolves have let some games slip away in the last week. While it’s good to be
competing, it’s difficult to see so many close games not break their way.
“I think we’re playing hard but we’re not executing, we’re not doing the little
things,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “Those are the things that win games. You just
can’t win purely off energy in this league, everyone’s too smart and too good so
you got to play not only at a high energy but a high intellectual level as
well.”
“We just got to make sure we communicate throughout the entire game,” said Rose.
“Can’t let the stars get off. Everybody’s going to have different matchup
problems every night, we just got to key in on certainly players and try to make
it tough for them.”
It’s difficult for the players rehabbing injuries to watch from the sidelines as
their team struggles, but it’s part of the job–coming back too early and
getting re-injured hurts far more than it helps.
“It’s tough but that’s why I’m a professional,” said Rose. “With all the
injuries I have I kept fighting. This is small compared to what I went through
in the past. Focusing on the team, what we need right now, just trying to keep
my spirits high.”
For the Wolves players that are on the court, it’s important not to get caught
up in the injury struggles. While they want their teammates back as soon as
possible, they have a job to do, too.
“Regardless of the situation we got to be ready next man up and got to be ready
to play at a high level,” said Towns. “Had a lot of chances to win and wasted
them, so just another night where we have to go out there and play for 48
minutes.”
The Wolves take on the Clippers at 7 p.m. Monday night. You can read our
scouting report and get more information on how to watch and how to buy tickets
here.
Player: Derrick Rose
Player: Jeff Teague
Player: Karl-Anthony Towns
Media Content:
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/shootaround-report-injuries-getting-better-
wolves-focused-important-game
Media Keywords: NBA, Sports, Minnesota Timberwolves, Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague,
Karl-Anthony Towns, Ryan Saunders, Minnesota Timberwolves
Media Thumbnail:
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/sites/timberwolves/files/shootaround_cover_5.jpg
Taxonomy: Shootaround Report
Story Link:
https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/shootaround-report-injuries-getting-better-
wolves-focused-important-game
