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Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 takeaways in loss to Miami Heat

By Dylan Jackson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 16: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat defends against D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter of the game at Target Center on April 16, 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 - APRIL 16: Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat defends against D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter of the game at Target Center on April 16, 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 lost a game that was never competitive in the second half to the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.

In a game where the Timberwolves struggled to score at all levels, the Timberwolves were out of the game by the fourth quarter, with the Miami Heat surging as the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, fighting to stay out of the play-in tournament.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are firmly at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, and while the idea of “playing for something” is nice, it might be time to start looking at securing the best lottery odds possible.

Openly tanking is one thing, but resting up players that have had injury/missing game issues this year (Towns, Russell), it might be a smart idea to allow them to sit out the rest of the year.

Takeaway #1 – The Minnesota Timberwolves are trying to find out what they have before the season ends.

The Timberwolves had nine players with more than ten minutes played against the Miami Heat on Friday night – opting to start both Ricky Rubio and D’Angelo Russell.

Minnesota coach Chris Finch (as well as GM Gersson Rosas) presumably would like to see whether players such as Josh Okogie, Jaylen Nowell, and Jordan McLaughlin warrant future consideration as rostered players, could be used as trade chips, or evaluated for future contracts in general.

Takeaway #2 – Minnesota Timberwolves: An aggressive Anthony Edwards is the best Anthony Edwards.

Throughout the first half of the game on Friday, Anthony Edwards was inconsistent in driving to the hoop – just two days after dropping 42 points on 22 shots on a team currently situated in a play-in spot.

Edwards had a decent night based on efficiency, but his ability to drive to the rim and finish shots off-balance is absurd and needs to be utilized more often.

Takeaway #3 – The Minnesota Timberwolves missed Jaden McDaniels on Friday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves really missed having a solid forward defensive presence (as well as floor spacer) against a team as good as the Miami Heat tonight – especially given the Heat have Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, two incredible defensive talents.

McDaniels is a great shooter and one of the best rookies in the NBA this season. He will be an excellent asset moving forward – and someone that should be able to become a high-level rotation player as his career progresses.

Next. 3 of Anthony Edwards's best quotes. dark

The Timberwolves’s next game takes place on Sunday, May 9th against the Orlando Magic.

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