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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from win vs. NY Knicks

By Dylan Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 31: Ricky Rubio #9 and Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves double team Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter of the game at Target Center on March 31, 2021 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, MINNESOTA - MARCH 31: Ricky Rubio #9 and Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves double team Elfrid Payton #6 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter of the game at Target Center on March 31, 2021 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) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New York Knicks after coming back in the fourth quarter.

27. 102. 86. Final. 101

Death.

Taxes.

The Minnesota Timberwolves losing.

Wait, they didn’t?

Tonight, Minnesota won a late game vs the New York Knicks, who hired former Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau last offseason. The Timberwolves are now 12-36. They hold onto the worst record in the NBA.

Takeaway #1 – Jaden McDaniels is the real deal.

Tonight, McDaniels brought impact on both ends of the floor. He spaced the floor effectively, was really good defensively, and overall, was probably Minnesota’s best player tonight.

Jaden McDaniels was the was the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He wasn’t expected to be a contributor this early, and his effectiveness as a rookie is remarkable where he was drafted.

The Timberwolves might have found their long-term option at power forward, should these types of performances (or even just average games) continue.

Takeaway #2 – Chris Finch needs to continue experimenting with the lineup.

While the Timberwolves have been undeniably bad this season, the hiring of Chris Finch seems to be one of the bright spots. He’s toyed with the rotation in pretty much every game – a breath of fresh air after Saunders failure to maximize his players.

Tonight, Finch had eight players with more than ten minutes of play time – Rubio, Beasley, Edwards, McDaniels, Towns, McLaughlin, Reid, and Nowell. This is a far cry from some of the previous games seeing 10+ players get at least ten minutes of run time.

Again, in a lost season, this needs to continue.

Takeaway #3 – Ricky Rubio is not going to be in Minnesota after his contract ends.

There’s a lot that has gone wrong with the second Ricky Rubio stint in Minnesota. After the initial grace period following the trade, his inconsistency as a player has done nothing but soar.

Today, there was a possession which he passed on a wide-open layup. Several seconds later (on the same possession), he would end up taking a much, much more contested layup that resulted in a block.

That’s not to say that Rubio hasn’t had good games this season – because he absolutely has. There are some games where he looks like a legitimate starter (sometimes even more than that). But for the majority of this season, he has looked unplayable.

dark. Next. Wolves: Beasley needs to shake rust off quickly

The Timberwolves’ next game in Memphis against the Grizzlies on April 2nd.

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