The Minnesota Timberwolves have been able to acquire and develop talented players at a high level in recent years, and it’s led to a dynamic rotation that possesses impressive depth. In addition to having a quality starting lineup, the Timberwolves’ second unit has the ability to take over games with forward Naz Reid and guard Donte DiVincenzo leading the way.
Reid is the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year so it’s not a surprise that he’s continued to make a major impact off the bench as the Timberwolves rely on him to provide consistent scoring and rebounding. Coming off his seventh consecutive game with 10+ points, Reid is third on the team with 15.4 points per game to go with 48.5% shooting from 3-point range.
During a 113-94 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Reid racked up a season-high 25 points and nine rebounds to help the Timberwolves pull away in the second half. The performance underscored Reid’s elite scoring ability and emphasized his importance to the team’s depth, which will continue to be a pivotal factor in finding success moving forward.
Another important addition to the bench has been DiVincenzo, who has made an immediate impact by stretching the floor and supplying defensive versatility in his first season in Minnesota. DiVincenzo has been a key contributor in several games this year, averaging 10.4 points and 3.4 assists, including a 14-point outing in the blowout win over Charlotte.
25 PTS 🐺 9 REB 🐺 9/13 FG
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 5, 2024
Naz Reid dropped a GAME-HIGH in scoring and in rebounding to lead the @timberwolves to a 21-point win over the Hornets! #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/w3EaCSaumG
The Timberwolves are an extremely deep team once again
The Timberwolves’ bench boasts several other valuable role players including guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and rookie Rob Dillingham. Alexander-Walker has emerged as one of the team’s premier perimeter defenders and a capable shooter from beyond the arc, while Dillingham is hoping to carve out a role in the months ahead after making his debut last weekend.
Despite being near the bottom of the league in bench usage, the Timberwolves’ second unit currently ranks 11th in scoring and fourth in three-point shooting from the bench this season. The emergence of the improved depth has allowed Chris Finch to depend on a well-rounded second unit that has been able to complement the starters on a consistent basis.
“They continually get us kickstarted into the game. We have to find rhythm with our starting group but our bench has been huge,” Finch said in a press conference on Monday. “I’m lucky to have eight starters. We’re spoiled for choice.”
The construction of such a deep roster is a testament to the coaching staff and front office, who have built a team with enough balance and depth to compete atop the Western Conference. With a road trip to take on the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, the Timberwolves’ reserves should be able to continue firing on all cylinders and providing a spark when called upon.