3 surefire events, 2 surprises that may happen in Wolves-Lakers Play-In match up
By Bret Stuter
Surefire Event I: Shorthanded Timberwolves will lean on Nathan Knight
Without backup center Naz Reid, starting center Rudy Gobert, or forward Jaden McDaniels, the Minnesota Timberwolves are incredibly thin in the frontcourt for this one. That means that like it or not, the Timberwolves will depend on a rotation that will lean heavily on power forward/center Nathan Knight in this one.
Knight has been lightly used over the course of the 2022-23 NBA season. While he has appeared in 38 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he has averaged no better than 7.7 minutes per game. Look for that number to double for the Timberwolves in this one.
Knight has had some lengthy appearances, and not just mopping up at the end of blowouts this season. He’s averaged over 18 minutes and eight points in three games against the Denver Nuggets this season, and he’d played 26 minutes and scored 16 points against the Chicago Bulls.
Hot. 3 benefits to Minnesota Timberwolves wake up call in fisticuffs finale. light
In the final game of the season, the Timberwolves tapped Kyle Anderson to take over for Jaden McDaniels at small forward, moved Karl-Anthony Towns from power forward to center for Rudy Gobert, and then promoted Taurean Prince off the bench for the power forward role.
Against the Lakers, the Timberwolves starting five will likely be Towns, Prince, Anderson, Anthony Edwards, and Conley. That leaves the Timberwolves front court with next to nothing in terms of reserves off the bench, which translates into a lot of business for Nathan Knight in this one.
The suspension imposed on center Rudy Gobert is one-game, so he should be back for either the series against the Memphis Grizzlies or for the final Play-In Tournament game to determine who will advance to face the Denver Nuggets. In that scenario, Prince will return to his sixth-man role off the bench and Knight’s role will diminish.