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Timberwolves Power Rankings: Tough loss blemishes perfect week

By Jake Paynting

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 1: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 1: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 16: Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 16, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 16: Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on January 16, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Nemanja Bjelica (7)

Season stats: 15.7 MPG – 6.0 PPG – 3.1 RPG – 0.6 SPG – 49.5% FG – 43.8% 3PT – 84% FT

Weekly stats: 15.4 MPG – 6.0 PPG – 4.3 RPG – 0.7 SPG – 46.7% FG – 36.4% 3PT

It was consistent yet unspectacular, with the better all-around bench play combined with a tightened Tim Thibodeau rotation, Nemanja Bjelica falls to the bottom of the power rankings ladder.

The big Serbian started off with his best performance of the week. He put up 8 points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3PT) along with 4 rebounds, 2 assists a steal and a block. Bjelly has looked far more comfortable lately launching from deep and is starting to look like the three-point threat he was early in the season.

Bjelica wasn’t as hot to round out the week, but he remains a constant threat via his long-range shooting and is a vital cog in the Timberwolves bench rotation, which has struggled to maintain consistency for large parts of the 2017-18 season.

In the comfortable win over the Pelicans, the 27-year-old hit just 2-of-5 field goal attempts for his 5 points but did chip in 3 rebounds, an assist and a block in his 15 minutes. Bjelly backed that up with another 2-5 shooting, 5 point performance, this time grabbing 6 boards and dishing out 2 dimes in the Cavs loss.

Despite falling to the last spot in the rankings this week, Bjelica is still amidst his best season yet in Timberwolves colors.

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