The Minnesota Timberwolves were missing key players for their last game before the All-Star break. They faced the top team in the Western Conference while playing back-to-back nights, following a tough loss to a team missing several players. However, the rookies stepped up and were ready to perform.
With four of their top eight scorers injured, the Timberwolves defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-101 on Thursday. It was one of their best wins in a season full of ups and downs, showing the importance of drafting and developing young players, even for veteran teams.
Terrence Shannon Jr. came off the bench first, scoring all 13 of his points in the first half, along with six rebounds in 29 minutes and a plus-23 rating.
Rob Dillingham contributed six points and five assists in 21 minutes with a plus-18 rating.
Jaylen Clark, who is technically in his second year after sitting out his rookie year due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, made his first career start.
“I love how the young guys have been playing. I really do,” said head coach Chris Finch, who has been cautious about expanding his rotations over the past three seasons with the Timberwolves always competing for a playoff spot. “We’ve got to try to maintain a role for them going forward.
Maybe not every night. They’ve got to stay ready. Who knows when and how healthy we’ll get at any given time, so we’ll wait for that to happen before we make any predictions. But I just kind of like how they’re fighting.”
Clark didn’t have much of an impact in his 24 minutes on Thursday, but Finch made sure to recognize the 2023 second-round draft pick’s recent improvements. Over a five-game homestand from Feb. 1-8, Clark averaged 22 minutes and scored 49 points in total.
Dillingham, the eighth overall pick from Kentucky, played with high energy and helped put pressure on Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s top scorer, holding him to a 6-for-21 shooting night.
Rob Dillingham works towards as Aaron Wiggins defends in the 1st halfShannon has played more minutes in the last four games, and on Thursday, he set career highs in points, rebounds, minutes, and plus-minus.
“He’s super tough, but we already knew that,” Dillingham said. “Any time I see him on the fast break, I throw it up. It’s an automatic bucket or a foul. And he plays defense.”
Shannon was asked when he realized his way into getting playing time was through defense.
“Ah, I knew that before I came into the NBA,” Shannon said. “I was always a two-way player, and that was my mindset coming into the NBA.”
Shannon and Dillingham worked well together with another young player, Luka Garza, who contributed eight points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes. The two first-round picks brought energy to the offense, which was felt by their teammates and the fans.
In the second quarter, Clark grabbed a defensive rebound and passed it to Dillingham, who found Shannon for a layup over Thunder player Chet Holmgren to extend the lead to 52-35.
On the next possession, Dillingham drove to the basket, drawing three defenders, and passed to Shannon in the corner. Shannon missed the three, but Naz Reid grabbed the rebound and passed it to Clark, who then assisted Shannon for another layup.
In the fourth quarter, Dillingham ran a fast break and made a behind-the-back pass to Reid on the wing. Reid passed the ball back to Dillingham, who finished with a running layup to put the Timberwolves up 103-89.
“We just work out every day and wait for our opportunity,” Dillingham said. “Everyone is just positive with what they do. We come in whenever we get a chance, and we can perform.”
