After crushing injuries to Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards, it was widely expected that the Minnesota Timberwolves would unleash second-year wing Terrence Shannon Jr. With Jaden McDaniels getting into foul trouble early, Shannon was the first man off the bench for Minnesota in Game 5.
Overall, he played 14 minutes and notched 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Truthfully, much of this accounted for Shannon's eight points in the final 2:55 minutes of the game when the result was already decided. At the same time, this highlights Shannon's microwave scoring abilities, and it's worth noting that the Denver Nuggets kept their starters in.
With a chance to win the series on Thursday, I think the Wolves will have to lean on Shannon for an extra punch of scoring and rim finishing. It would be a bit risky to trust an inexperienced player in such a high-leverage situation. And yes, if Shannon struggles, they shouldn't ride or die with him.
Nevertheless, the Wolves' success in this series has been tied to attacking the paint, and that's an element that Shannon very much can provide. If the Wolves finish the series out at home on Thursday, there's a strong chance that it will be connected with a big game from Shannon.
Why Terrence Shannon Jr. can help the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets
During Monday's loss, the Wolves scored 50 points in the paint, a solid number, but it was also their lowest mark of the series. Credit to the Nuggets' defense for packing the paint and playing with more physicality.
Regardless, it's clear that attacking the rim has been a successful recipe for the Wolves, and it's something they need to get back to doing in Game 6.
While Shannon only had two shots at the rim in Game 5, his bread and butter is using his speed to attack the basket.
In addition to punishing the Nuggets in the halfcourt, Shannon could help create some scoring opportunities for the Wolves in transition, and his general pace would be helpful. His blend of pace, shot creation, and finishing makes him perfectly suited to give Denver's defense fits.
Shannon has shown that he can be an absolute firecracker off the bench for the Wolves, including in high-leverage situations. Most notably, Shannon recorded 15 points in Game 3 of last year's Western Conference finals.
Ultimately, for the Wolves to win the series, they'll need to get back to what's worked: Attacking the rim and pushing the pace. Without a doubt, that's something Shannon can do. When it's all said and done, the Wolves might benefit from playing him a bit more than they did in Game 5.
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