With just two games left in the regular season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are locked into the sixth seed. As such, picking up two extra wins is irrelevant at the surface level. This has led some fans to say the Wolves should simply throw in the towel and rest all of their key players down the stretch.
Nevertheless, considering how topsy-turvy this season has been and the Wolves' recent 2-6 stretch, building some momentum before the playoffs would be highly beneficial.
On Wednesday night, the Timberwolves rested numerous key rotational players, but Jaden McDaniels returned from his six-game absence. Ahead of Friday's game against the Houston Rockets, Rudy Gobert is out, while Julius Randle, Bones Hyland, Ayo Dosunmu, and Anthony Edwards are all questionable. Whether it's on Friday or Sunday night, Ant is widely expected to play in at least one game before the regular season ends.
Notably, Edwards has missed 10 out of the Wolves' last 12 games. For Ant and McDaniels specifically, getting back into game shape before the playoffs will be vital. Luckily, McDaniels didn't miss a beat, notching 18 points on Wednesday.
The Wolves' last two regular season games could give the team a boost
Within all likelihood, the Wolves will face off against the Denver Nuggets in the first-round of the playoffs. This is a tricky matchup, especially compared to the alternative of playing a snake-bitten Los Angeles Lakers squad. Regardless, the Wolves can't be fully dismissed.
There's no denying, though, that if the Wolves go into the playoffs riding the recent bad vibes, their chances of pulling off an upset are slim to none. Conversely, if the Wolves have two strong wins (especially against a talented Rockets team), they could carry these positive vibes into the playoffs.
I'm totally in favor of resting a few players who might understandably feel burned out from the rigours of the regular season. At the same time, I see value in playing some of your rotation players and trying to pick up a few confidence-boosting wins.
As noted, these last two games will be especially important for Edwards and McDaniels. I understand why some people would want to see these key players rest. However, there's nothing like live game reps, and these last two games could ensure that they'll be fresh for the playoffs.
Ultimately, while nothing will change in the standings heading into the playoffs on a high note and building some positive momentum could be somewhat of a game-changer for the Wolves.