It’s game time again between the Timberwolves and Hornets on Friday in Minneapolis now that the All-Star break is over.
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This will be the second time during the regular season that these two teams play each other. The Hornets won the last time, 110-108.
On Friday, the T-Wolves will play at home. Then, on Sunday, they will leave for four important games away from home. Minnesota plays all of the NBA’s California teams on the trip, and three of them are currently in a position to make the playoffs.
When the Timberwolves get back from their break, they will be ready for the play-in round. They’re in eighth place in the Western Conference, but they’re only half a game behind sixth. But they are only 1 1/2 games ahead of Utah, which is the last team in the West to be eliminated from the play-in round.
In the last six weeks of the regular season, Minnesota might make more changes to its team, like putting Karl-Anthony Towns back in the starting lineup.
On February 17, The Athletic said that Towns might be able to play in the last 10–15 games of the season. He hasn’t been able to play since November 30 because he hurt his calf.
Anthony Edwards, who is an All-Star, is still Minnesota’s most important player, even though he is not a starter. Edwards has the most points on his team, with an average of 24.9 per game. This season, he has played in all 61 games.
The third-year star Edwards had scored 31 or more points in three of his last four games, including 34 against Washington in his most recent game.
Rudy Gobert, on the other hand, is ready to play today against the Hornets. Since the beginning of January, he has only averaged 12.8 points, 11.1, and 68.6% field goal shooting per game.
In their last game, the Hornets beat the San Antonio Spurs by a score of 120-110. On both ends of the court, they played well. If they want to beat the Timberwolves on the road, they will have to play well in this game.
The Hornets have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference after the break, and they are 11 1/2 games behind the last play-in spot. But if Charlotte wins in Minnesota, it will be the first time this season that they have won three straight games.
The Hornets won their last two games before the break with help from LaMelo Ball. He had 30 points, 15 assists, and six boards in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. He had 28 points, 12 boards, and 10 assists against the San Antonio Spurs.
Cody Martin won’t play in this game because he hurt his knee. He has only played in seven games this season, and six of them were in the middle of January. No one knows when he will play again.
Kelly Oubre Jr. hasn’t played since Dec. 29. On January 5, he went to the hospital to have surgery on his left hand. In rehab, he was having trouble getting better. But it would have been better for the left-handed forward to have had more time off during the All-Star break.
Since Oubre’s injury didn’t happen in his lower body, he shouldn’t have to worry about his fitness when he gets back, but he may be rusty offensively.
Terry Rozier didn’t play in the Hornets’ last game before the All-Star break because he hurt his right hand, but he’ll probably be back when the team plays again on Friday.
