NBA Cup Preview #2 – Timberwolves at Kings

Minnesota Timberwolves @SacramentoKings
Date: 15 November 2024
Time: 9:00 p.m. CST
Location: Golden 1 Center
TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Let’s be real here – this week has been an absolute train wreck. There are no two ways about it. We’re talking a complete disaster trifecta: a late-game meltdown against the Heat on Sunday, zero energy in the NBA Cup opener on Tuesday, then an implosion against the Blazers on Wednesday. For those keeping score, that’s three games in a row where the Wolves stumbled, hobbled and somehow found a way to look worse with each performance. Last week I was ready to talk about how the Wolves could roll into this Sacramento game at 9-3, push .750 ball and sit right atop the Western Conference standings with OKC, Phoenix and Golden State. It wasn’t a far-fetched idea. That result was fair enough if the team could only execute at a marginal level. Instead, the Wolves are somehow sitting at .500. If the season ended today, they would miss play-in altogether.

Let’s be honest, this is beyond growing pains. After all the offseason moves and realignment, this isn’t just an “adjustment phase.” What we are seeing right now is downright shameful. But hey, sometimes you just have to accept what’s happened, take a deep breath and move on. The Wolves must go into tomorrow’s game against Sacramento with exactly that mindset. Forget the mistakes of the past week. The focus must be on this game and this game alone.

This game against the Kings is critical on so many levels. First, the Wolves must snap this three-game skid and claw their way back above .500. Then there’s the NBA Cup factor. If they want to have a chance to progress in the Cup, it starts with this game. Most importantly, they need to find an identity – a sense of pride, grit and, frankly, a pulse. The last time they played Sacramento, it was the Kings’ home opener, and you could feel the energy in the building. The Wolves barely squeaked by with a 117-115 victory and salvaged their first W of the season. It was a narrow escape, fueled by a strong fourth quarter, but it still felt shaky — like a team that wasn’t quite sure of itself. Now, a few weeks later, they are still riding the same inconsistency, going from a winning streak to another embarrassing slide. If they don’t step up now, this could spiral quickly.

Looking at the damage report, it looks like we have our full roster. Mike Conley, the vet who could have stabilized things Wednesday against Portland, should be back after getting a layoff in that game. His leadership is badly needed, especially in a high-stakes matchup like this. For Sacramento, DeMar DeRozan is a game-time decision, but I expect him to fit. Malik Monk, a guy who has made a habit of setting the Wolves on fire, is out. So there is a break.

If the Wolves play like they did in Portland — low energy, sloppy, no defensive hustle — it’s going to be a long, painful night. But if they show even an iota of the pride we know they’re capable of, this is a winnable game. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle must bring the heat on offense. Rudy Gobert will own the paint. Jaden McDaniels? This is the night to lock down defensively and crack down on De’Aaron Fox and DeRozan. And the bench – Naz, DDV and NAW – must trigger something. The Wolves have the talent. They can compete with anyone when locked up. The question is, can they get out of their own heads and consistently play up to that level?

Yes, it feels bleak. But it’s early – twelve games to go with seventy to go. They have time to turn this around. It’s the NBA; the season is a marathon, not a sprint. But make no mistake, this is a defining moment. The Wolves need to pick up some wins from tomorrow night. With Phoenix, Boston and the two remaining Cup games against the Rockets and Clippers looming, it will take a 180 degree turn in trying to make it. The Wolves still have a chance to regain their pride, regain our respect and go into the heart of the season with some real momentum.

So here’s what I see tomorrow: Will the Wolves show some fight? Will they compete or will they collapse like they did against Portland? I will choose to believe that they will show up, that Ant and the rest will play as they mean it. But time is ticking and they cannot afford to waste this opportunity. It’s tummy time in Sacramento. Let’s see if the Timberwolves have the fire to turn this around.