The Timberwolves’ current downward spiral couldn’t come at a worse time as they try to secure a Western Conference playoff berth. While the NY Knicks are rolling along, having already secured a playoff spot.
Update Injury status for Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards
The Western Conference is a shambles, and Minnesota is smack in the middle of it. They are eighth with two other teams but are only one game above last place (and tied with 11th and 12th in the loss column).
The Timberwolves have lost three in a row and five of their last six games after their 122-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. They are on the cusp of either making the top six or being eliminated from playoff contention.
Due to an ankle injury, Rudy Gobert may not be able to play on Monday in New York.
Despite playing with an ankle injury, Gobert has been listed as “questionable” for the last four Timberwolves games. However, he is more likely to play than not.
NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards injured his ankle in Friday’s matchup with the Chicago Bulls and had to be taken out of action. There are only a few weeks left in the season, and he has no idea when he will be back.
Edwards sat out Saturday’s 15-point loss to Toronto for the Timberwolves. The team’s latest defeat was their third in a row.
Only five of their twenty-three three-point attempts were successful, and it was clear that they missed the contributions of their two leading scorers.
Edwards’ status for Monday’s game against the Knicks is in question, according to Dane Moore of “The Dane Moore NBA Podcast.”
Edwards will evaluate his ankle during shootaround, but it would not be surprising if he ends up being a game-time decision for Monday night’s 7:30 p.m. ET tip.
A calf injury has kept Karl-Anthony Towns out of action since November. This is also a major contributing factor.
On Monday night, the Knicks will host the struggling Timberwolves, hoping to keep themselves in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The regular season series between these two teams is coming to a close with this contest.
The New York Knicks were aided by the return of Jalen Brunson on Saturday afternoon, as they moved closer to locking up a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Brunson led the team in scoring with 24 points, and his contributions in the final minutes helped seal a 116-110 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets.
After missing the previous three games with a foot injury, Brunson has returned. Most of the Knicks’ points came from him. Because his 32 minutes were only three less than before his season-ending injury, the point guard didn’t have to ease back into the lineup.
If everything goes well, he’ll be back to playing a regular role and contributing to his team’s breakout season.
Injury reports Knicks:
- Duane Washington Jr. (Illness) – Questionable
Injury reports T-Wolves:
- Naz Reid (Calf) – Questionable
- Anthony Edwards (Ankle) – Questionable
- Jaylen Nowell (Knee) – Questionable
- Austin Rivers (Back) – Questionable
- Rudy Gobert (Ankle) – Questionable
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Calf) – Out