On 5-game win streak, Wolves eye strong start vs. Suns
Sun Dec 7 8:31pm ET
Field Level Media
Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch likes the way his team is finishing its games.
Now he wants to see some better starts.
The Timberwolves will have a chance to start fast when they tip off against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night in Minneapolis.
Minnesota is looking to increase its winning streak to six following a 109-106 triumph at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. That victory followed back-to-back wins over the New Orleans Pelicans and one apiece over the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics.
Finch is happy with his players' determination in close and late moments, but he also wishes that they would not create difficult circumstances in the early going.
As usual, Minnesota's coach puts the emphasis on defense.
"(We've) got to get a better effort defensively from our main guys right now," Finch said. "Starting the first half just too casual. It's now been five games in a row, and we've had to come from behind to win it, but we're not putting our stamp on the game defensively right away.
"We're just too loose."
Phoenix also is looking for improvements as it travels north. The Suns are coming off a 117-98 road loss against the Houston Rockets and have lost three of their past four.
The Suns, much like the Timberwolves, want to anchor their performances on defense.
Suns guard Collin Gillespie and his teammates believe they can bounce back from their loss against the Rockets. Monday's contest will mark the third installment of a four-game road trip.
"I think we got good looks (against Houston), they just didn't fall," Gillespie said. "It was one of those nights. We just can't let our offense dictate the flow of the game and our defense. We can never let that happen defensively. Whether we're missing shots or making shots, defense has always got to come first and be our staple."
The Suns will need to find a way to slow down Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards. He is averaging a team-high 28.1 points per game on 48.8% shooting, including 41.6% from 3-point range.
Julius Randle ranks second on Minnesota with 23 ppg. Jaden McDaniels is third with 16, and he will try to stay hot after scoring 27 points on 10-for-13 shooting against the Clippers.
Finch praised McDaniels for his contributions on offense. He's also considered to be one of the Timberwolves' top defenders.
"He has all the kinds of qualities of a good mid-range shooter," Finch said. "He can get to his spot, under control. (He) gets good balance, can get up in the air. Not many people can affect (his shot) with a block or a contest, and he takes his time."
Devin Booker leads the Suns in scoring with 25 ppg on 45.7% shooting but will miss his second straight game with a groin injury. Dillon Brooks is averaging 22.3 ppg and Grayson Allen is scoring 17.3 ppg.
Brooks, who is questionable for Monday's game due to left Achilles soreness, explained the Suns' mindset before they headed to Minnesota.
"We just have to be more physical, withstand runs and maybe play a little faster," he said.
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Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Orlando Magic. The Spaniard could be absent for the first time this season due to a right calf contusion. While Aldama has made eight consecutive appearances as a reserve, he often plays 30-plus minutes, meaning his absence would leave a notable gap in the rotation. GG Jackson II and John Konchar could take on extra minutes on Sunday if Aldama doesn't play.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (knee) will miss a seventh consecutive game on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies. With the Magic currently in Europe, Suggs will have some additional time to recover next week, but it's unclear when he will be ready to return. With Suggs on the shelf, Anthony Black, Tyus Jones, and Jase Richardson carry extra fantasy value. Black has been the best of the bunch, scoring 20-plus points in three consecutive games.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (calf) has been officially listed as probable for Sunday's tilt against the Orlando Magic in London. On Saturday, Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo hinted that Morant is on track to return after he came through a full practice. The probable designation indicates that the Grizzlies star is indeed expected to be back in the lineup. Morant's return will end Cam Spencer's run as a starter, though he will remain a significant piece in the rotation.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (ankle) will remain out on Sunday against the Houston Rockets. He will miss his seventh consecutive game due to a sprained left ankle. Since Dec. 22, Jones has played in only one game, and it's unclear when he will be cleared to return. At the start of this week, Pelicans interim head coach James Borrego labeled Jones day-to-day. With Jones out, Saddiq Bey should log another start on Sunday. The Villanova product has averaged 17.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in a starting role this campaign.
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. He hopes to end a four-game absence. While Eason has been nursing a right ankle sprain, Josh Okogie has started three straight games. Yet, the Nigerian veteran has been anonymous in each contest, scoring only a total of 10 points. Eason was having a strong offensive stretch before his injury, shooting 41.7 percent from deep in January and averaging 13.4 points with 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (hip) will be inactive on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. He will skip the second leg of a back-to-back after notching a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double across 32 minutes in Friday's loss to the Houston Rockets. Naz Reid will likely slide into the starting lineup, while rookie Joan Beringer will be more involved in the action. Reid recently notched 19 points and three rebounds in his first start of the campaign against the Milwaukee Bucks. On Saturday night, he has a much tougher matchup against Victor Wembanyama.
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (heel) has shed a probable tag and will suit up on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. The 22-year-old is ready to play through a heel contusion. Thompson has struggled offensively in recent weeks, averaging only 8.7 points per game in January. He will look to overcome the slump on Saturday night against the Pacers, who are allowing the eighth-most points per game this season.
Detroit Pistons forward/center Paul Reed (personal) will be in the lineup on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. Due to personal reasons, Reed was initially iffy for Saturday's action. However, Detroit upgraded him to probable in the afternoon, and he has now been listed as available. Reed will return from a one-game absence. Since both Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart are healthy, Reed's playing time on Saturday may be limited to only a handful of minutes.
Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ziaire Williams (conditioning) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Chicago Bulls. The 24-year-old recently missed time due to illness and is now working on his conditioning to get back into game shape. Sunday's game will Mark Williams' sixth consecutive absence. Brooklyn will also be without Michael Porter Jr. (rest) and Drake Powell (knee) on Sunday, which should create more playing opportunities for Danny Wolf, Terance Mann, and Nolan Traore.
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (wrist) will be active against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday. The team has upgraded his status from probable to available. Cunningham has been dealing with a wrist contusion in his shooting hand. He shot only 18.8 percent from the field in Thursday's win over the Phoenix Suns. However, the Pistons star is in a good bounce-back spot on Saturday, as the Pacers have not been a good team this season.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (rest) won't be in action on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls. The team has decided to rest him for the first leg of a back-to-back. Porter Jr. is Brooklyn's leading scorer, and without him on the floor, the rest of the starting unit gets to play a larger role on offense. Meanwhile, Danny Wolf is expected to step into Porter Jr.'s starting role, as he has done in the past. The 21-year-old rookie has averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals as a starter.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) is listed as doubtful to suit up for Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. This isn't shocking news considering Giddey hasn't played in a game since December 29. He's still working his way back from a hamstring injury, but the doubtful tag suggests that he's not quite ready to play yet. The expectation is that Tre Jones will continue to start in Giddey's place. He scored 34 points with seven assists during Tuesday's game against the Houston Rockets. Jones has enough upside to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats while Giddey is out.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. Williams was only able to play 12 minutes on Friday before exiting due to a sprained right ankle. Another absence would likely mean an extended look for Dalen Terry and Jalen Smith in the rotation. When healthy, Williams hasn't been much of an asset, averaging 6.5 points, 1.2 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game. He's too inconsistent at the moment to be trusted in most fantasy formats. Smith is the preferred streaming option with back-to-back double-doubles. He'll once again be a strong streaming choice if Williams is unable to play.
Indiana Pacers center Isaiah Jackson (concussion) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Jackson has cleared the league's concussion protocol and will play for the first time since December 22. He has missed the last 13 games, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the Pacers ease him back into action. Jay Huff figures to remain the starting center, so Jackson will compete for backup minutes with Tony Bradley and Micah Potter. Jackson isn't a very attractive streaming option at the moment, but could gain value once he's back to full speed.
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (illness) has been cleared to play on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jovic has been battling an illness, and the team handed him a questionable tag on the injury report earlier in the day. He has now been upgraded to available. Jovic has averaged 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals in 20.9 minutes per game this month. On Saturday, the 22-year-old may play a larger role for the Heat, who won't have Davion Mitchell (shoulder), Tyler Herro (toe, ribs), and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (knee) in the lineup.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards (foot) will return from a two-game absence on Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs. He'll hope to repeat his heroics from last Sunday, when Edwards made the 104-103 game-winning shot against the Spurs. Overall, he had 23 points in the game, marking a quiet outing compared to his usual standards. Mike Conley will presumably drop back to the bench on Saturday, while Edwards' return also hurts the fantasy value of Bones Hyland.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (ankle) is available to play ahead of Saturday's game against the New York Knicks. Booker will shed the questionable tag and return to the lineup after missing Thursday's game due to an ankle issue. He was able to participate in shootaround on Saturday and is feeling good enough to suit up. The return of Booker will send Grayson Allen back to the bench. Allen was strong in his place as he scored 33 points during Thursday's game. He'll lose streaming appeal coming off the bench, but is still worth a look as a streaming choice.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (toe, ribs) won't play in Saturday's contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Miami has downgraded Herro from questionable to out, leaving the team without a second starter. Davion Mitchell (shoulder) also won't play on Saturday night. Pelle Larsson moved into the starting unit as Mitchell's replacement on Thursday against the Boston Celtics, and Kasparas Jakucionis could take over Herro's spot on Saturday. However, Kel'el Ware is also an option to start, having recently enjoyed a long stretch in the starting lineup as Herro's replacement.
New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (ankle) won't suit up on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. Hart was a late addition to the injury report due to right ankle soreness, and the Knicks have downgraded him from questionable to out. Jalen Brunson (ankle) also won't be playing, leaving the team without two starters. Miles McBride is set to fill in for Brunson, while Mitchell Robinson could be Hart's replacement in the first unit. At the same time, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Kolek, and Landry Shamet might see more time on the court.
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Dyson Daniels (ankle) won't be in the lineup on Saturday against the Boston Celtics. He's dealing with a right ankle sprain and has been downgraded from questionable to out. Daniels' absence from the lineup may give CJ McCollum a starting role. Luke Kennard is another option to start, while Vit Krejci could be more involved in the rotation due to Daniels' absence. Daniels will have his first chance to return on Monday versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
