Player grades from Minnesota Timberwolves’ loss to the Phoenix Suns
By Ben Beecken
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Phoenix Suns by 19 on Sunday night, the eighth consecutive game that they’ve dropped.
118. 66. 99. 86. Final
The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost eight games in a row, and, at least in the last several days, they’ve gotten progressively uglier.
The Wolves did hang around for much of this one, but it never really felt like they were in the game. The Suns were throwing the ball all over the court and seemed fairly disinterested but still managed to build a five-point halftime lead.
Then, in the third quarter, Phoenix started to pull away. Devin Booker dropped 21 in the frame and had 41 before the start of the fourth quarter. The Suns were up 10 headed to the fourth, and they quickly added on, pushing it up to 20 in short order.
The Wolves’ defense was shoddy from start to finish, and all Wolves players not named Karl-Anthony Towns or Anthony Edwards struggled to contribute anything offensively.
The rotation was quite different in this one, too, with 11 players seeing the floor by the midway point of the second quarter. Rookie Jaden McDaniels was the 11th to get into the game, ceding his usual minutes in the first quarter to Jake Layman, who had recently been out of the rotation entirely.
With only one more game until the All-Star break, the Wolves are grasping at straws to try to pull out of another tailspin.
Minnesota Timberwolves Player Grades vs. Phoenix Suns
Center. Minnesota Timberwolves. KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS. B. Karl-Anthony Towns started the game with a made 3-pointer on the Wolves’ first offensive possession. It was his only field goal attempt in the opening quarter and one of just four in the entire first half. Towns had a much stronger third quarter but was generally frustrated by Deandre Ayton and a lack of foul calls from the officials. His final line of 21 points (7-16 FG, 2-7 3P, 5-6 FT), 10 rebounds, one steal, one block, and one assist was fine, but it was a fairly disappointing game from KAT.
B. Anthony Edwards was fantastic in the first half, scoring 15 through two quarters. He finished with 24 but it took him 22 shots to get there and he turned the ball over four times. Edwards also pitched in five rebounds, three steals, and an assist, but as good as he was in the first quarter, the second half was rough sledding for the rookie. Still, he was the only Wolves player outside of Towns who provided anything of substance on offense.. Wing. Minnesota Timberwolves. ANTHONY EDWARDS
RICKY RUBIO. C+. Ricky Rubio struggled from the floor, missing all three of his 3-point attempts and finishing the game with only six points on 2-of-8 shooting. He did have six assists and three steals, wreaking havoc in the third quarter largely due to his familiarity with the Suns’ playbook. If we’re grading on a curve, Rubio was probably one of the Wolves’ three or four best players in this one and deserves a better grade. But, we’re not, so he gets a ‘C+.’. Point Guard. Minnesota Timberwolves
Big. Minnesota Timberwolves. JARRED VANDERBILT. C. On the heels of an impressive double-double last time out, Jarred Vanderbilt only played 15 minutes and had two points and five rebounds. The Suns aren’t an ideal matchup for Vanderbilt; Frank Kaminsky, Dario Saric, and Jae Crowder all provide challenges in their own way and Vando wasn’t his usual self in this one.
Josh Okogie started his second consecutive game in Malik Beasley’s absence and shot 0-for-5 from the field en route to two points, three rebounds, and a -12 in 18 minutes. He also struggled mightily defensively against Devin Booker. It was a stark contrast to his solid performance on Saturday against the Wizards.. Wing. Minnesota Timberwolves. JOSH OKOGIE. D
B. Naz Reid was really good once again, scoring nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in just 13 minutes. The Suns played Saric at the backup 5 for stretches, which helped suppress Reid’s playing time. Just 24 hours after the Wolves played Towns and Reid together at times in Washington, the pairing wasn’t feasible against the Suns and Reid’s impact was limited.. Center. Minnesota Timberwolves. NAZ REID
Minnesota Timberwolves. JOSH OKOGIE. B+. Jake Layman somehow ended up playing the third-most minutes on the Wolves, logging 30 minutes as part of both the first wave of reserves and the garbage-time crew. He played well, putting up 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting and chipping in four rebounds, four assists, and a block. Layman remains a solid team defender and seemingly gets a bucket per quarter simply by making a timely cut to the basket.. Wing
B. Jordan McLaughlin was good once again, finishing with six points, four assists, four rebounds, and zero turnovers. He only shot 2-of-7 from the field but mostly outplayed the Suns’ bench backcourt.. Point Guard. Minnesota Timberwolves. JORDAN MCLAUGHLIN
C-. Jaylen Nowell struggled, shooting just 1-of-8 from the field and 0-of-2 outside the arc, missing a pair of wide-open 3-point attempts. He added three rebounds, an assist, and a steal, but his offensive game was off-kilter and he was beaten badly when asked to guard Booker.. Wing. Minnesota Timberwolves. JAYLEN NOWELL
Other Minnesota Timberwolves Players
Jaden McDaniels was nearly removed from the rotation, not taking the floor until midway through the second quarter. He only played nine minutes, scoring five points and adding a steal.
Jarrett Culver had his second consecutive rough performance since returning after a month-long absence. He missed all three of his shot attempts from the field and was a -6 in nine minutes.
Juancho Hernangomez took the floor for the first time in the fourth quarter and played the final seven minutes. He shot 3-of-5 and made a couple of solid offensive plays while also pulling down four rebounds.
Next. 4 Wolves players who benefit from Beasley's absence. dark
Up next for the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves have another two consecutive off days before wrapping up the first half of their schedule with a home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. Then, the All-Star break!