Timberwolves Rest Key Players Against Nuggets in Preseason Finale

On October 17, 2024, the Minnesota Timberwolves announced that Nickeil Alexander-Walker will not participate in Thursday’s preseason game against the Denver Nuggets as part of a rest strategy. This decision follows his 22-minute appearance in a previous game against the Chicago Bulls. The Timberwolves’ coaching staff aims to manage player workload efficiently ahead of the regular NBA season.

According to a report by RotoWire Staff, the Timberwolves plan to utilize several players to fill the gap in the backcourt, with Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon, Daishen Nix, and Josh Minott expected to take up the majority of minutes during the game.

The coaching staff has also decided to rest not only their starters but also their regular reserves in the game against the Nuggets. This precautionary approach will allow less experienced players to gain valuable playing time and showcase their skills.

Terrence Shannon is set to begin the game in a starting position. Accompanying him in the starting lineup will be P.J. Dozier, Rob Dillingham, Josh Minott, and Luka Garza. This fresh lineup underlines the Timberwolves’ strategy to give their emerging talents ample opportunity on the court during the preseason finale.

The Timberwolves’ approach reflects a common practice among NBA teams during the preseason, where the focus often shifts towards assessing the depth of the roster and giving emerging players a chance to prove themselves under competitive conditions.