Timberwolves Face Thunder Without Key Players in Must-Win Matchup

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Minnesota Timberwolves will be shorthanded for their Sunday night matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as star players Rudy Gobert, Donte DiVincenzo, and Julius Randle have all been ruled out. The game, set for 8:30 p.m. CT at Target Center, comes at a critical time for the Timberwolves as they navigate a tough stretch against top Western Conference teams.

DiVincenzo, recovering from a big toe sprain, and Randle, nursing a right groin strain, have not played for several weeks, while Gobert is set to miss his second consecutive game due to low back spasms. Despite being cleared for basketball activities, both DiVincenzo and Randle are not yet ready to return.

The Timberwolves struggled significantly without Gobert in their last outing on Friday, giving up 48 points in the first quarter and losing 121-115 to the Houston Rockets. The starting lineup against the Rockets included Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid. Luka Garza served as the backup big man but faced foul troubles as well.

“We need to own the paint and clean up the glass, and that relies heavily on our frontcourt players,” said Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch after the game.

With Sunday’s game crucial for maintaining playoff positioning, Finch expressed the need for the Timberwolves to adapt their strategy depending on the availability of their frontcourt players. “If we can roll out our Gobert-Randle-Naz Reid frontcourt, we have a shot at dominating inside,” he said. “But if we don’t, we’ll have to rely more on perimeter scoring and defense.”

Anthony Edwards, who recently enjoyed a streak of impressive performances, will be pivotal in the Timberwolves’ offensive strategy. After scoring 37 points against the Rockets, Edwards’ ability to assert himself will be vital in facing a strong Thunder defense.

“I thrive in big games, and this is one of those opportunities,” said Edwards in a pre-game interview.

Turning the focus to the Thunder, who boast the league’s best record at 45-10, the Timberwolves face a daunting task. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s MVP candidate, is a significant threat, and the Timberwolves will need to employ a variety of defensive strategies to limit his impact. “Last time, we threw a rotation of long defenders at him,” Finch noted. “We’ll need to do that again.”

The Timberwolves currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, desperately needing wins to solidify their playoff hopes. They are looking to maximize their home-court advantage after having already beaten the Thunder earlier this month.

“This game is a must-win,” Edwards asserted. “We can’t let these games push us deeper into trouble.”

With both teams searching for a crucial victory, Sunday night’s action promises to be intense as the Timberwolves aim to break a two-game losing streak against the formidable Thunder.