Yes, they played the Hornets on Saturday, not exactly a world-beater. Still, the Timberwolves are back in the win column with the first victory in their three games that Anthony Edwards has been sidelined by the score of 122-105. They’ll have a chance to win another road game against the winless Nets on Monday.
The defense looked much better. The point guard play was unspectacular, but solid. The third quarter was awesome. The most worrisome thing from their get-right game, though, was yet another nonexistent offensive showing from Terrence Shannon Jr.
Shannon Jr. scores just two points on Saturday
The 27th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Shannon Jr. first checked into Saturday’s game with around four minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The 25-year-old drew a shooting foul on Tre Mann by driving into his body, and he subsequently made both free throws.
Those would be his only points in the game. Shannon Jr.’s only field goal attempt came during Minnesota’s first possession of the second quarter when he missed long on an open 3-pointer from straight on. He was taken out with 9:43 left in the second before returning with 4:28 left.
In his 10 minutes of action in the first half, the team was a -10 with Shannon Jr. on the court. Chris Finch didn’t call his number again until there was just 1:16 left in the game, when the bench was emptied because the Timberwolves had the win locked up.
TSJ has had trouble scoring much of late
If this were a one-off bad outing, then it would be just a blip on the radar. The problem is that Shannon Jr. is playing because of his work on the offensive end. Saturday was the fourth time in the last five games that he scored three points or less (two times went scoreless). It’s the fifth-straight contest where the team was outscored with him playing (Shannon Jr. is -52 in that time).
Prior to garbage time, Finch played 10 guys on Saturday. One who didn’t play, of course, was Edwards. He is out with a strained hamstring, but hopefully should be returning soon.
It doesn’t seem realistic that Finch would go to an 11-man rotation (he could even eventually settle on a nine-man rotation). Which of the 10 that played on Saturday won’t once Edwards returns (barring another injury)?
Jaylen Clark just returned after missing two games and has arguably been the team’s best defender early in the season. He should remain in the rotation. An argument could be made that the player who should be taken out of the rotation should be either Bones Hyland or Rob Dillingham. The more likely one might be Hyland, as Dillingham has been seeing more action than him of late.
Maybe just as likely, though, is seeing Shannon Jr. exit the rotation. If he’s not scoring, the 6-foot-6 wing isn’t providing a lot of value. At some point, Finch could also decide he wants to instead see what Johnny Juzang can do in meaningful minutes. He is about 8.5 months younger than Shannon Jr.
The Nets have by far the worst defensive rating in the league early on in the year, so it's a golden opportunity for Shannon Jr. to get his offensive game back on track come Monday night.