Key Highlights
- Naz Reid expected to see increased minutes against the Spurs.
- Victor Wembanyama likely to play 40+ minutes due to an extra day of rest.
- Jaden McDaniels’ midrange shot has been struggling but could clear his prop bet.
The Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 4: Mother’s Day Desperation
On Mother’s Day, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in a desperate situation. With their back against the wall, they need to pull out all the stops against the San Antonio Spurs tonight.
Naz Reid’s Increased Minutes
Ignoring a game where he played five minutes due to injury, Naz Reid has now played five games against the San Antonio Spurs this season. In those five games, he is 15-for-29 (51.7%) from beyond the arc, hitting at least three 3-pointers four times.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ sixth man should see starter’s minutes tonight. He played 16 in Friday’s second half, nearly three more than Julius Randle did. Of the Timberwolves’ three big men, Reid is the best fit to counter the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama’s Long Game
There is a want to point out that Victor Wembanyama was clearly winded late in Game 3. And Minnesota should absolutely prioritize driving into the Defensive Player of the Year’s body to both further that fatigue and to try to draw some fouls.
Wembanyama had five on Friday; challenging him a bit more often could have been decisive. But the reality is that Wembanyama has grabbed 15 rebounds in all three games of the series, in part because he played 40 minutes in Game 1 and 37 minutes in Game 3.
With an extra day between Games 4 and 5, there is no reason for San Antonio not to ride Wembanyama tonight.
The Spurs know how much of a difference he makes on the court. If tonight is competitive, expect Wembanyama to play 40+ minutes.
Jaden McDaniels’ Struggles
Make no mistake: Jaden McDaniels’s shot is hurting these days. It has been for months. But going 3-for-8 from deep in Game 3 may be an encouraging sign.
McDaniels is struggling in his usual favorite spot; Victor Wembanyama is the only player in the NBA with the length to bother McDaniels’ midrange fadeaway jumper.
Despite that frustration, he has cleared this prop in two of the three games against the Spurs.
Minnesota desperately needs his offense. Only Wemby can bother it, which is obviously a huge caveat, but the majority of the time, McDaniels has an edge.
