Gorgui Dieng controls the ball guarded by Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 22, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The time is pretty much now for the Minnesota Timberwolves if they want to salvage any playoff hopes from what’s already been a roller-coaster season.
The Timberwolves dropped to 24-26 and 3.5 games out of a Western Conference playoff spot after Sunday’s loss to the Utah Jazz at Target Center. It was their second straight loss to the Jazz after fighting back from a 20-plus point deficit in Utah Friday night, only to run out of gas late in a 106-102 loss.
The Timberwolves are now 5-5 under interim coach Ryan Saunders. He’s having to rely on a lot of different faces with Robert Covington, Derrick Rose, Tyus Jones and Jeff Teague all out with injuries.
“He’s our leader, he’s our captain and we have full confidence in him every single day, every single practice, every single moment he’s with us,” forward Karl-Anthony Towns said of Saunders.
Towns has been playing some of his best basketball in four of the Timberwolves’ last five games. He’s scored at least 22 points in five straight games, and has double digits in rebounds in four of his last five games.
That comes after a historic 27-point, 27-rebound night in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 12, just three games after Tom Thibodeau was fired. In his words, he’s just “trying to find ways to win.”
“That’s all I’m doing on a nightly basis. Being the best I can be out there and giving ourselves a chance to win,” Towns said.
The issue is the winning isn’t happening consistently enough. The Timberwolves were on a three-game win streak before losing consecutive games to Utah.
There’s a sense of urgency as both the NBA trading deadline looms next Thursday, Feb. 7, and the All-Star break comes after they host the Houston Rockets Feb. 13. The Timberwolves have seven games, four at Target Center, left before the best players in the world gather for the All-Star Game.
“We haven’t put any firm dates on in terms of we need to do this or that. Everything is day by day. Now you need to look forward and you need to have goals and I realize that, but if we take care of what we’re supposed to take care of today, tomorrow is going to take care of itself and I believe in that,” Saunders said.
One player whose game has changed since Saunders took over as interim coach? Andrew Wiggins. The scoring has been up and down most of the season, though he just scored a combined 56 points in two games against the Jazz.
But his rebounding average has nearly doubled in the 10 games since Saunders has been roaming the sidelines. He had 10 rebounds in Saunders’ debut at Oklahoma City, and has had at least seven rebounds in six of the 10 games.
“I’m just trying to do more. I feel like I’ve kind of been streaky this year with everything I’ve done,” Wiggins said. “We’re just trying to stay more consistent, grab more rebounds, do whatever I can to help the team.”
Wiggins is taking on more of a load all over the court with the Timberwolves dealing with a slew of injuries. Covington is out with a bone bruise on his knee. Jones remains out with a left ankle injury, and Teague is still out with a left foot injury.
Rose is questionable to play Wednesday with an ankle injury. He practiced Tuesday, but did non-contact work.
It’s also meant more court time for the Timberwolves bench, and they’ve responded. Jerryd Bayless has played at least 20 minutes in five straight games, and has scored in double figures in four straight contests. That's after being inactive for the first 32 games of the season. He had 19 points in Sunday’s loss to Utah. Jared Terrell had a career-high 10 points in last Thursday’s win over the Lakers, just his fifth active game of the season.
Bayless helped lead the comeback from down 20-plus at Utah that came up just short.
“They’re professionals, they’ve been good when they’re called upon. They come in and you see the results,” Wiggins said. “They work in practice, and it shows in games.”
Players stepping up that don’t usually play is great, but the reality is the Timberwolves need it to show up in the win column. Four of Minnesota’s next seven games are against opponents with sub .500 records.
Until the injuries heal, it’s on Towns, Wiggins and the other veteran players to shoulder the load. But Saunders likes what he sees in practice.
“Obviously it’s the results on the court. That’s what we’re judged by and that’s what we want. We want to win every game. But in terms of building and progressing and moving forward, we like that guys have a spirit about them,” Saunders said.