The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to win their third game in a row against the Utah Jazz on Thursday night in Minneapolis – and they may have to do so without leading scorer Anthony Edwards.
Minnesota leads the Western Conference with a 13-4 record, including a 119-97 away win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday and a 106-103 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
The Timberwolves could be in for their toughest test of the season right now. Edwards is classified as questionable with a right hip ailment, and top defender Jaden McDaniels is still out with a sprained right ankle.
In the recent Tuesday win, the 22-year-old Edwards sustained an injury while attempting a dunk. He lost balance during contact with a Thunder player and fell hard to the court, primarily impacting his hip.
Despite returning to attempt his free throws after a timeout, Edwards had to exit the game a minute later due to escalating pain. His absence in the upcoming match against the Jazz could pose a challenge for the Minnesota Timberwolves, particularly in terms of scoring. Edwards has been delivering a career-high average of 26.2 points per game this season, shooting 46.4 percent overall and 37.7 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch commended backup guard Troy Brown Jr., who stepped up in Edwards’ absence against the Thunder and may have an expanded role against Utah. Brown contributed 17 points in the previous game, including pivotal scoring down the stretch that secured the victory.
Regarding Brown’s performance, Finch expressed confidence in his readiness, acknowledging the fluctuating nature of roles in the NBA and Brown’s adaptability to such changes.
Utah Jazz, on the other hand, will face the Timberwolves after a quick turnaround following their road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies (105-91). Jazz coach Will Hardy acknowledged the difficulty in altering routines and forming new habits, especially while playing away from their home court.
In their recent game against Memphis, John Collins led the Jazz with 17 points, supported by Jordan Clarkson and Simone Fontecchio contributing 12 points each. However, forward Lauri Markkanen remains sidelined due to a left hamstring injury, missing his third consecutive game. Markkanen’s absence will continue against the Timberwolves, depriving Utah of his 23.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game contribution so far this season.
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