2016-17 Shootaround Access

admin

The Wolves have the tough task of going up against the Golden State Warriors at the Target Center on Friday night.

Led by Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors have made 770 3-pointers this season (fourth in the NBA) at a 38 percent clip (third).

“You have guys that can shoot them, obviously with Curry and Thompson, it’s not normal how deep they shoot them and then (Kevin) Durant’s the same when he’s playing,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said after Friday’s shootaround. “But you have to by ready when they cross half court.”

The Wolves have allowed 607 3-pointers made this season, 12th-best in the NBA while teams have shot 35.8 percent against the Wolves, tied for 13th.

They will certainly have their hands full against a team like the Warriors, even without Durant.

Wolves wing Brandon Rush spent the last two seasons with Golden State along with 2011-2013. In four seasons as a Warrior, Rush averaged 5.7 points while shooting 41.2 percent from the 3-point line.

He was able to chat with a few of his old teammates on Thursday night.

“I love playing against these guys,” Rush said. “(I) got a chance to catch up with a couple of them last night and I’m very excited for this game tonight.”

Rush, who missed Wednesday game with illness, is available tonight.

Shabazz Muhammad started his first game of the season in Rush’s place on Wednesday night and finished with 17 points and six rebounds while shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Thibodeau said he was impressed with Muhammad’s energy after Thursday’s practice and Muhammad was thankful for the opportunity to get the starting nod.

“I just think my energy level. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to start against a really good Clippers team and really tried to have that energy,” Muhammad said. “And it really carried off on a lot of our guys and especially the starting lineup.”

Muhammad and the Wolves tipoff against the Warriors tonight at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports North, NBATV and WCCO 830 AM.

shootaround-access-wolves-vs-warriors-2

Shootaround Access | Wolves vs. Warriors

The Wolves are back from a four-game road trip that saw wins over the Kings and the Jazz. Minnesota played some good basketball on the trip, and one player in particular was a big reason why.

Over the four-game trip, second-year forward Nemanja Bjelica averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds, including back-to-back double-doubles.

“I feel good. We had a great road trip. . . I’m feeling good on the court. I tried to play my game, the way how I feel more comfortable and help the team,” Bjelica said after Monday’s shootaround.

On the season, Bjelica is averaging 6.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. The Wolves are hoping to get more of what Bjelica has been able to do lately in tonight’s battle against the Blazers.

Prior to the trade deadline, the Blazers swapped Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkic with the Denver Nuggets.

Since his arrival in Portland, Nurkic has been an absolute stud, averaging 14.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in six games while shooting 57.6 percent from the field.

“Nurkic puts a lot of pressure on the rim,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Tough in the low post, has a strong low-post game. Also a very good passer. I think that trade was a very good trade for both teams.”

The Wolves will try to slow down Nurkic and the Blazers tonight at 7 p.m. The game will air on Fox Sports North and WCCO 830 AM.

shootaround-access-wolves-vs-trail-blazers-2

Shootaround Access | Wolves vs. Trail Blazers

minsflood

Mitchell HansenWeb Editorial AssociateTwitter

The Minnesota Timberwolves take on the Utah Jazz in a Western Conference matchup at 8 p.m. Wednesday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

The Wolves look to stay on track after winning three of their last four games. It’s also another important game for Minnesota, which sits three games back of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

“We just have to keep working,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after shootaround in Utah. “You have to be out there every day enjoying the process and getting better. We get on a run right now and we could possibly get in the playoffs. You always to make sure you can do everything in your power first to help your team, so I am doing everything I can in my power, in my mentality physically and mentally to get us there.”

Towns and Andrew Wiggins are looking to begin the month of March how they finished their red-hot month of February.

“They’ve had good chemistry with it all year long. I think now they are taking it to a different level now,” Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I think Andrew is starting to grow defensively, as is Karl. That’s going to be the whole thing for us. When we can play well defensively consistently, then I think we can win consistently.”

In February, Wiggins averaged 28.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, while Towns tallied 28.4 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game. The Wolves went 5-7 in that span.

“It’s really just continued growth. Their improvement, their better understanding to how they are being defended. . . They are scoring a lot of different ways,” Thibodeau said. “The more they make plays and they see how they can play off of each other, I think the better they are going to get.”

The Wolves and Jazz square off at 8 p.m. Wednesday night in Utah. The game will be aired on Fox Sports North and 830 WCCO. 

shootaround-access-wolves-at-jazz-2

Shootaround Access | Wolves at Jazz

The Wolves face off against the new-look Kings tonight in Sacramento. The Kings, of course, traded All-Star DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans on All-Star Sunday in a deal centered around Buddy Hield.

 Despite the new look of players, Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau feels comfortable about knowing Sacramento’s personnel.

“You know the players. Buddy Hield, we’ve played against,” Thibodeau said after Monday’s shootaround. “Some of the young guys are getting a chance to play so you’ve studied them in college as well. And there’s no bad players in this league and you’ve got to be ready for everyone.”

One player who has gotten an expanded role with Cousins’ departure is second-year center Willie Cauley-Stein. Cauley Stein has played in 35 and 28 minutes, respectively since the trade. In the team’s first game without Cousins, he finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds in a win over the Denver Nuggets.

Per 36 minutes this season, he’s averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

“He’s got a bigger role,” Thibodeau said. “Very athletic. Runs the floor well. Plays with good energy. “

The Kings go into the game with a 25-34 record, one game back from the Nuggets for the eighth seed. The Wolves are 23-36, three games back.

Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. at the Golden 1 Center. The game will air on Fox Sports North and WCCO  830-AM.

shootaround-access-wolves-at-kings

Shootaround Access | Wolves at Kings

The Wolves signed guard Lance Stephenson to a 10-day contract on Wednesday morning about nine hours before the team was scheduled to take on the Toronto Raptors.

According to head coach Tom Thibodeau, we could see Stephenson against the Raptors, although the Wolves won’t be able to run all the sets with him.

“We’ll see how it unfolds,” Thibodeau said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “We can have a package that he can run. It will be smaller, but it’s not unusual.”

You remember Stephenson from his days in Indiana when he was a defensive force and all-around solid player. His best season came in 2013-14 when he averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while leading the NBA with five triple-doubles.

Since then, he’s played for the Hornets, Clippers, Grizzlies and Pelicans.

His career averages are 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and three assists per game. He’s coming off of groin surgery, but passed his physical and is ready to roll.

“I actually feel good,” Stephenson said. “ . . . I’m just ready to play.”

It sounds weird saying that Stephenson is just 26 years old. It seems like he's been around forever, but he came into the league when he was 20 out of the University of Cincinnati.

Stephenson likes the look of the young and rising Wolves team and with Zach LaVine out for the season after tearing his ACL, he thinks he can contribute to the team.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Stephenson said. “I’ve seen the team and think there’s a lot of young, great players. I think I just come in with a veteran’s experience and help the team.”

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Target Center. The game will air on FOX Sports North.

shootaround-access-stephenson-could-play-vs-raptors

Shootaround Access | Stephenson Could Play vs. Raptors

The Wolves travel to play the Suns in Phoenix tonight and are looking to go for the season sweep as they’ve beaten the Suns in the previous two games.

One guy the Wolves will have to slow down if they want to do that will be second-year guard Devin Booker. Booker is averaging 20.5 points, 3.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 36.7 percent from the 3-point line. All numbers are up from last season.

Booker was the teammate of Wolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns in their lone season at Kentucky.

“He’s like a brother to me. He’s like family. . . I’m always super excited to see him doing well,” Towns said after Tuesday’s shootaround.

Towns, however, won’t be cheering for Booker tonight.

Speaking of Towns, he’s been on an absolute roll for the Wolves lately.

Over his last seven games, Towns is averaging 28.6 points, on 64.1 percent shooting, 13.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

Towns is a candidate to make the Western Conference All-Star team as a reserve. That will be announced on Thursday, but Towns is more worried about the team winning its third straight game than that.

“I’m more pleased because not the way that I’m playing, but because we’re getting wins.,” Towns said. “We’re closing out games. That’s the biggest thing.”

Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau echoed Towns and said that he is deserving, but it also comes down to winning along with individual stats. The Wolves are currently winners of five of their last seven games and sit 2.5 games back from a playoff spot.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. tonight on Fox Sports North Plus and WCCO 830-AM.

shootaround-access-wolves-at-suns

Shootaround Access | Wolves at Suns

The Wolves face off against the Spurs tonight in San Antonio.

Minnesota is 3-1 in its last four games, but is most recently coming off of a road loss to the Mavericks on Sunday.

“I really like our group,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said after Tuesday’s shootaround. “We’re disappointed with the way we played. It’s very prideful. I thought our practice was great yesterday.”

Starting a new winning streak won’t be easy against a 31-9 Spurs team that sits in second place in the West. 

And what makes San Antonio so dangerous is the fact the Spurs can just plug guys in. No Tim Duncan? Sign Pau Gasol. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are getting older? Meet Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. And that’s not even mentioning emerging role players like Kyle Anderson.

“I think when you’re playing teams like this, it’s good to measure exactly where you are,” Thibodeau said.

The Wolves go into the game with a 14-27 record and this is the second of a three-game road stretch that ends on Thursday in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

The Spurs beat the Wolves back at the Target Center on Dec. 6, 105-91.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Fox Sports North Plus and WCCO 830-AM.

shootaround-access-wolves-at-spurs

Shootaround Access | Wolves at Spurs

The Wolves host the Rockets tonight hoping to make it two-straight wins after beating the Mavericks on Monday night.

One thing the Wolves have going for them as of late is their bench play. After starting off slow, Shabazz Muhammad and company have stepped it up recently.

Muhammad has hit double digits in six of his last eight games.

“I’m feeling great. I think the game is really starting to slow down for me,” Muhammad said after Wednesday’s shootaround. “That’s what it did for me last year at a certain point and hopefully it continues. I’ve just got to continue to play hard.”

If Zach LaVine is unable to play, expect Muhammad to play close to 30 minutes against the Rockets.

LaVine left Monday’s game against Dallas with a hip contusion in the third quarter. He didn’t practice Tuesday and is officially questionable for tonight’s game.

Wolves head coach Tom Thibodeau said that LaVine will warmup tonight and the team will go from there.

“He did mostly rehab stuff and then a warmup tonight and we’ll see how he is after he warms up,” Thibodeau said.

We’ll have an update for you closer to pregame.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Fox Sports North and WCCO 830 AM.

shootaround-access-wolves-vs-rockets-3

Shootaround Access | Wolves vs. Rockets

Protected by

Aura

<a href="https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/live">Now Streaming: Rudy Gobert's DPOY Press Conference</a>

2016‑17 Shootaround Access