Minnesota Timberwolves Power Rankings: KAT loses his crown

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: Taj Gibson #67, Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 24: Taj Gibson #67, Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 24, 2017 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 26: Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with the media after the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 26, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 26: Tyus Jones #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves speaks with the media after the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 26, 2017 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

6. Tyus Jones (8)

Season stats: 16.0 MPG – 3.2 PPG – 2.7 APG – 1.0 SPG – 39% FG – 31.8% 3PT – 78.6% FT

Weekly stats: 27.3 MPG – 5.7 PPG – 4.7 APG – 3.7 SPG – 42.9% FG – 37.5% 3PT – 50% FT

Everybody hates injuries. Even more so when it’s your favorite team’s starting point guard who is burying over 40 percent of his 3-balls this season.

So when Jeff Teague went down with his Achilles soreness, fans weren’t sure whether or not Tyus Jones and Aaron Brooks could handle the keys to this team. Could they keep the momentum going that Jeff Teague was developing?

It took just six minutes for Brooks show us he wasn’t the man – and to make way for Tyus Jones -who promptly answered the question with a resounding yes.

Although the Timberwolves lost their first game in horrendous fashion to the Heat, giving up 19 3’s, Tyus Jones showed that he can compete with the big boys from the get-go, putting up 8 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

All while helping the Timberwolves to an eight-point advantage when he was on the floor, per NBA stats.

It was a great showing for the Minnesota local, but his first official start for the team he grew up supporting was something out of a fairytale.

He didn’t even score 10 points, but Tyus Jones, with some help from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, absolutely took over the Suns, with his career-high minutes (38) coinciding with his best game of the Duke products career.

Jones controlled the Wolves’ offense, while unstoppably pestering the opposition’s, as well as hitting shots when the chance presented itself.

That’s not a typo … seven steals.

A welcome sight for a guy who is still shooting sub-40 percent for the season.

We want Jeff Teague back. Obviously. But Tyus Stones firmly put to bed any fears that the point guard position would fall into mayhem without Teague.

He also saw himself climb the power rankings ladder two rungs this week, that might not be his last rise if Jones keeps playing like this.