NBA Play-In Tournament: Timberwolves powder-keg explodes in finale

Timberwolves Aftermath: Rising from the Ashes

Okay, now that you’ve heard the pugilistic particulars of the Timberwolves’ season finale against the New Orleans Pelicans, what was the outcome of this one?

After falling behind in the opening quarter, and losing Jaden McDaniels to injury, the Minnesota Timberwolves did what this team has done all season, circled the wagons and played harder, smarter, and move effectively. In fact, as the game wore on, the Timberwolves outscored the Pelicans by four points (Q2), six points (Q3), and seven points (Q4).

As a result of the Timberwolves’ impressive victory, the team has earned the right to compete for a chance to play in the NBA Playoffs for the second consecutive season. To enter the NBA Playoffs, the Timberwolves must win one of the up to their next two games they may play in the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Maybe Minnesota Timberwolves simply love adversity?

We will cover the particulars in more detail in a follow-up article, but it will boil down to this. The Timberwolves will travel to and play the LA Lakers on April 11 for the right to enter the NBA Playoffs as the seventh-seeded team in the NBA Western Conference and play a best-of-seven series once again against the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

If the Minnesota Timberwolves fail at that, they will have a second chance, this time competing at home on April 14, for the chance to earn the eighth seed in the NBA Western Conference and play against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Two chances to compete in the NBA Playoffs. But at what cost? The Timberwolves roster is already short-handed due to backup center Naz Reid’s broken wrist. Now the team faces competing without their best defender, forward Jaden McDaniels, who was hopeful of being named to the NBA All-Defense Team. Finally, the team must somehow learn how to grow past the fistfight between center Rudy Gobert and now starting forward Kyle Anderson.

Perhaps the Minnesota Timberwolves simply love adversity? After all, this team seemed to play its best after the odds seemed to be stacked heavily against them. In the end, does it really matter how you get there? Or is getting there simply good enough?