The Minnesota Timberwolves (3-0) have been blowing past their competition in preseason so far. But that appeared to be at risk when the LA Lakers announced that they would be playing their starting five in this one. The Timberwolves played this game without their big two in Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, plus no Taurean Prince, no PJ Dozier, and no Eric Paschall.
“No Rudy, no KAT, no J-Mac, no Taurean Prince, no PJ Dozier, No Eric Paschall.”
— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) October 13, 2022
-Chris Finch on who’s not playing tonight vs. Lakers.
That does not seem like a formula for success. But the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be the type of team that will raise a few eyebrows this season. How can that be on a night when the Timberwolves appeared to be outmanned and outgunned before the opening tipoff?
The Timberwolves appear to have brought their artillery in the first half in this one. The Timberwolves have been hot from beyond the arc, hitting on better than 38 percent of their three-point shots.
On the opposite side, the LA Lakers have only hit on two of 18 three-point attempts.
While it’s just halftime, the Timberwolves are clearly not in the least bit intimidated at facing the best of the LA Lakers, at facing former teammate Patrick Beverly, or even at giving up some height to the taller Lakers players.
So who is starring in this one?
Naz Reid
If you wanted to discount the effort by Minnesota Timberwolves backup center Naz Reid in his first three preseason games, you will have an awfully tough time doing so in his fourth preseason game. Reid put up 19 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists in one half. He was three of six from the perimeter, and eight of 13 from the floor. He has been an offensive dynamo in this one, and he has done so against the LA Lakers starters in just 19 minutes. You have to be optimistic about his potential this year.
D’Angelo Russell
Even though he has yet to play alongside both Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, the first-half performance from PG D’Angelo Russell in Game 4 of the preseason was spectacular. In fact, it’s been everything you could hope for. DLo has scored 15 points, hauled in three rebounds, dished out six assists, gotten two steals, and even earned a block. He has shot three of five from three-point range, and five of seven shots from the floor. He is firing on all cylinders in this one.
Timberwolves bench
The Timberwolves bench continues to impress. The group is led by Jaylen Nowell who has led the group to score 17 points, get two rebounds, two steals, and even added one assist in just one half of regulation play. The consistent play of the bench has been a B-12 booster shot, as the group has continued to outpace their opponent.