Timberwolves Power Rankings: Rough nights and record breakers

5. Nemanja Bjelica (6)

Season stats: 20.2 MPG – 7.0 PPG – 4.1 RPG – 0.7 SPG – 48.2% FG – 42.7% 3PT – 79.1% FT

Weekly stats: 31.2 MPG – 9.0 PPG – 5.0 RPG – 1.0 SPG – 46.7% FG – 37.5% 3PT – 50% FT

Nemanja Bjelica started out steamy hot when Jimmy Butler first went down with his meniscus injury before cooling off to an uncomfortably cool level, this week he middled out to the kind of performances we expected from him sans Jimmy G. Buckets.

The big Serbian sandwiched two subpar outings in between two fantastic nights, which was just enough to keen a grasp on the final power rankings starting five position.

Bjelica kicked off proceedings with 17 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block against the Knicks. He shot hit six of his eight field goal tries, including 3-5 from downtown. This is the premium Bjelly game – knocking down triples, rebounding his position and playing sturdy defense.

He also pulled out this piece of brilliance, a potentially game saving hustle play that will even make Tom Thibodeau smile:

The next two outings were forgettable ones for the 29-year-old. He posted just five points (2-9 FG, 1-4 3PT) and four rebounds against the Sixers and backed that up with a scoreless night in Memphis, which pretty much encapsulates the Wolves night as a whole.

Bjelica quickly scuttled out of his funk against Atlanta with another classic Bjelly night. He put up 14 points (6-8 FG, 2-4 3PT), grabbed six boards, dished out three dimes and grabbed a steal. When Bjelica is confident and firing like this, he becomes a serious weapon on the offensive end and his size, length and sneaky-good athleticism give him a defensive edge too.

It will be interesting to see if Bjelica has earned himself more rotation minutes when Jimmy Butler inevitably returns.