Due to foul trouble and the Minnesota Timberwolves' dominance, LaMelo Ball was limited to just 16:44 minutes on Sunday night. During these minutes, Ball recorded 15 points and eight assists.
More impressively, he was a team-high plus-33, as the Wolves made light work of the Toronto Raptors, 117-94, moving up to 3-0 on the season. What's even more telling is that the Wolves were a minus-10 in the 31 minutes without Ball. Considering that the Wolves won the game by 24 points, this shouldn't be possible, but that's how impactful LaMelo was.
With him on the court, the Wolves also shot 22-for-29 from the field (including 9-for-11 from 3-point range), and they had an otherworldly 170.6 offensive rating. By all accounts, his impact was off the charts. Through three games, Ball has a league-leading plus/minus of 68. As such, this game is part of a bigger trend.
Minnesota dominating the Raptors (granted Kawhi Leonard was sidelined), in a game where Ball played just 16:44 minutes, and they lost the minutes in which he was off the court, is yet another reminder of this team's immense offensive ceiling.
LaMelo Ball sparked a Timberwolves win despite his limited minutes
Since the Wolves traded for LaMelo, it's been discussed how he'll transform their offense with his playmaking and scoring, and how he'll help Anthony Edwards elevate. Through three games, he's done exactly that with his playmaking and perimeter scoring. Despite his limited minutes, Sunday's game was Ball's best game with the Timberwolves.
Ball's playmaking made the Wolves' offense flow. Whether it was setting up his teammates for open 3-pointers, finding plays inside, throwing lobs, or simply making the extra pass, LaMelo created a ton of opportunities for his teammates. Furthermore, he helped the Timberwolves handle the Raptors' intense ball pressure by pushing the pace and making rapid decisions.
Ball's presence also opens up opportunities for his teammates, whether he's directly creating shots or not. We saw this on Sunday. The playmaking aspect is pretty self-explanatory, but the threat of his perimeter shooting creates open shots for his teammates. Last season, Ball ranked in the 97th percentile for overall gravity according to Basketball Index. Watching him, this adds up.
LaMelo's difficult shot-making was on full display during Sunday's game. The highlight play was this absurd stepback 3-pointer where he put Collin Murray-Boyles on skates. His ability to hit shots like this, paired with his playmaking, makes him one of the league's most talented and impactful offensive players. Pair that with Edwards and a rock-solid supporting cast, and you have an incredibly dangerous offense.
Conversely, when Ball was off the court, the Timberwolves' offense spiraled. The Wolves couldn't handle the Raptors' ball pressure well, they committed some poor turnovers and didn't generate great shots.
Thankfully, Ball's 17 minutes were enough for the Wolves not just to win, but to win comfortably. Simply put, this game perfectly encapsulates his impact on the Timberwolves' offense, and as the season goes on, this trend of dominating in LaMelo's minutes is primed to continue.
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