Minnesota Timberwolves Sweep The Cali Trip After Defeating Sacramento (138-134)

Minnesota Timberwolves Sweep The Cali Trip After Defeating Sacramento (138-134)

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by | Mar 5, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a win last night to the LA Lakers. Tonight they took on the Sacramento Kings and it was a tough one until the finish. Both teams have been fighting and crawling for positioning in the Western Conference so we definitely were in for a great game.

 

This was one of the most complete games that we’ve seen from the new look Timberwolves since the trade for Mike Conley Jr. You can tell that Conley Jr is getting comfortable in the system and he’s been able to learn where his teammates want the ball and when he needs to put his head down and attack to score. Mike Conley’s leadership and basketball IQ were on full display tonight as he was able to make some big plays throughout the game to give the Timberwolves the win. On the night Mike Conley finished with 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists but proved he can do it all when called upon. Conley has been able to get the ball in the spots that both Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards like with ease. Anthony Edwards has been nothing short of spectacular as of late and the best part about it is the fact his teammates have stepped up taking some of the scoring load off him in wins. Anthony Edwards at one point in the season looked like he would need 35 points for a win but nowadays he’s getting that offensive help that gives him a chance to have a lot more energy on the defensive end. Tonight Edwards was able to do it on both ends of the floor as he was able to slow down Fox for the majority of the game and still get his looks at the rim. Anthony Edwards had 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists tonight in Sacramento. Edwards is known for his all-around game and he showcased his playmaking skills tonight with 8 assists as he got McDaniels, Gobert, and Conley some great looks tonight.

 

 

Anthony Edwards has grown throughout the season and he’s unlocking that all-around game right before the Timberwolves need to make that playoff push. It seemed as if no one on the Kings was going to stop Edwards as he was on a mission from the opening tip. The Timberwolves played a complete game with 7 players in double-figures scoring. If the Timberwolves can get this production on a daily basis it will be tough for anyone to stop them. Jaden McDaniels had 19 points and made the Kings pay on his cuts and the defensive end all night. McDaniels has been a key defender for this team all year and he made it tough on Fox and Barnes tonight. As the games continue to go so does McDaniels confidence and this is the right time for it to be on display. Rudy Gobert had another strong night with back-to-back double-doubles as he finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Rudy has been on fire as of late and he’s been dominant in every phase from offense to defense this is exactly what the Timberwolves fans have been wanting to see and it’s happening. Rudy has been a beast and tonight he did a great job of slowing down Sabonis and limiting the points in the paint for the Kings.

 

Kyle Anderson almost had a triple-double tonight as he finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Anderson has been a great addition to the team and he’s been that constant playmaker that they can count on. The Kings didn’t know how to slow him down and when they did SlowMo made the basketball play to get his teammates the ball where they needed it. The Timberwolves bench showed up tonight too as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid combined for 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Kings made it close down the stretch but the Timberwolves were just making right play after right play. This type of win can lead to a lot of momentum heading into the rest of the March/April games.

 

The Timberwolves return home to play against the 76ers on Tuesday in a game that should be a must-watch for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Mar 5, 2023 No Comments
Rudy Gobert’s Double Double Propels Minnesota To Victory Over LA (110-102)

Rudy Gobert’s Double Double Propels Minnesota To Victory Over LA (110-102)

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by | Mar 4, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off a great team win against the LA Clippers the other night. They played against the LA Lakers this time, but it must be something about that Cali atmosphere because the Timberwolves have played well there this season. The Lakers played this game without LeBron James who’s nursing a foot injury and the Timberwolves still don’t have Karl Anthony-Towns back from the calf strain.

 

This game was about who would be the best big man in the paint tonight it was that simple. It was Rudy Gobert vs Anthony Davis and both of these guys didn’t disappoint one bit. Rudy Gobert started the game off with some inside moves to establish himself and he was cleaning up the boards all night long. It didn’t matter who was in the paint tonight for the Lakers Gibert had that dog in him tonight. Rudy set the tone and he was able to let his defense help create the offense. Rudy was able to put up 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 assists tonight. The great thing about Rudy’s night was that he took the challenge in the pick-n-roll and on the perimeter when it came to guarding Anthony Davis. When Gobert cleans up the boards like he did tonight there’s not much that opposing teams can do because he takes away their second-chance points. When the Timberwolves limit their opponent’s opportunities it gives them more of an advantage with Gobert. So that was definitely a sight to see if you’re a Timberwolves fan as Rudy has been on a mission as of late and he’s been dominant in the paint for Minnesota. Anthony Davis was able to get his tonight as he finished with 38 points but you can tell the Timberwolves were okay with that as long as no one else was beating them. The Timberwolves were able to throw multiple bodies at Davis like Reid/McDaniels to throw him off his game when it came to just matching up with Rudy. If the Timberwolves can continue to defend at a high-level anything’s possible with this unit.

 

 

Anthony Edwards didn’t have that crazy stat line game but he would tell you himself he’s just happy they got the win. Edwards finished the game with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists on the night. You can tell tonight wasn’t his all-star-caliber night but it happens. The best part about this whole thing is that we got a chance to see the other teammates step up and have his back. Tonight was the night the Timberwolves fans got to see why Minnesota traded for Mike Conley Jr as he was able to do it all. Conley Jr was able to score tonight and get the ball in his teammate’s hands with ease. If Conley can provide this type of leadership heading into the playoffs this would be a scary team to run into in April. Conley Jr had 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists but he made the right basketball play numerous times. It seemed as though Conley Jr was just making right play after another all night. Down the stretch, Conley Jr was able to hit some big shots and that really got the Timberwolves the lead mixed with Rudy.  Naz Reid and Taurean Prince were able to combine for 28 points off the bench to help seal the deal. The Timberwolves took advantage of some of the Lakers mistakes and made the most out of them. The Timberwolves will be facing the Kings who just beat the Clippers as the Kings will have a scorching hot Fox on their hands. Fox has scored 30 or more in 8 consecutive games so someone will need to take that challenge and make the best of the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Mar 4, 2023 No Comments
The Hornets Defeated Minnesota (121-113) Led By LaMelo’s 32 Point Performance

The Hornets Defeated Minnesota (121-113) Led By LaMelo’s 32 Point Performance

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by | Feb 25, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

Coming into this game the Timberwolves are still without Karl-Anthony Towns as they hope to get him back in the near future. This was the first game after the All-Star break and the Timberwolves needed to hit the ground running. The Timberwolves team moves the way Anthony Edwards moves right now and they need him big time down the stretch.

It was a tough game to watch if you’re a Timberwolves fan as the Hornets came out and did whatever they wanted. LaMelo Ball got too comfortable in the 1st half as he could drive, score, dish, and basically have his hands on the ball at all times. LaMelo showed up big time for the Hornets as the team moved to the beat of his drum. Anytime LaMelo had the ball in his hands he made a positive play and the Timberwolves were a step behind whatever he was doing. LaMelo finished the game with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists on the night. The Timberwolves weren’t making it tough on LaMelo in this game as he was doing as he pleased in that 1st half. It wasn’t until the 3rd quarter when Anthony Edwards took the challenge personally and was like I got LaMelo whenever he got the ball that they made a serious push. It was a little too late as the Timberwolves started clamping down on LaMelo but his teammates were already comfortable too. PJ Washington was one of those players that picked up the offensive scoring when the Timberwolves started to take LaMelo out of the game. PJ finished the game with 20 points, and 8 rebounds on the night. PJ was in the right place at all times it seemed as he was able to get some easy fast-break dunks after steals. The other player that looked like the All-Star version of himself was Gordon Hayward. Tonight Hayward made some tough shots and could keep their foot on the gas when Minnesota took LaMelo off the ball. Hayward finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists as he was able to do it all tonight. The Hornets were scrapping all night and it came down to a couple of big 3-pointers by LaMelo Ball to seal the deal for them as they were able to sneak out with a win.

The Timberwolves pretty much gave this game away because they are known to lock up on the defensive end and that creates their offense. Tonight that didn’t happen until the 2nd half and it was one of the reasons they were playing catch-up throughout the game. Anthony Edwards was special all night long but you can tell he needed someone to help him out with the scoring especially when he went to get rest. It seemed like every time Edwards went to the bench Ball was still in the game or was getting subbed back into the game. Edwards was able to get any shot he wanted tonight inside or outside it didn’t matter but his 29 points weren’t enough in this game. One thing that I loved is the fact he took the defensive challenge with LaMelo personally and it showed he wants to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Edwards wants to win at all costs and I think a game like this will go a long way for the rest of the season. Naz Reid was the second-leading scorer tonight and came off the bench blazing as he finished with 16 points. When Naz has his game going there are very few bigs in the league that can keep up with him it’s just all about consistency in the rotation. Rudy was able to get a big double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds but they needed a little bit more. This Timberwolves team has what it takes to make a big splash in the western conference especially when they get Karl Anthony Towns back. Once KAT comes back and once Mike Conley settles into his role in the offense things will be looking up for the Timberwolves as fans shouldn’t panic.

Up next the Timberwolves head to Golden State as they will be playing against a Klay Thompson that is scorching hot coming off an 11 3-pointer performance. The Timberwolves will need to lock in early so things don’t get out of hand and they come out with a victory.

Feb 25, 2023 No Comments
SneakerReporter 2023 NBA All-Star Festivities Predictions

SneakerReporter 2023 NBA All-Star Festivities Predictions

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by | Feb 17, 2023 | Featured, NBA

 

 

 

 

Rising Stars Challenge:

 

 

This Year’s Rising Stars challenge will be a little different from previous teams where there will be 3 games played. Team Pau will go up against Team Deron, and Team Joakim will go up against Team Jason. The target score this year is 25 points. Whoever is the winner of those games will go up against each other in game 3 with a target score of 40. 

Predictions: (Angel Ortiz Jr) Team Deron wins the tournament and Team Pau is the runner-up.

Predictions: (Travis Singleton) Team Joakim will win the tournament and Team Pau will be the runner-up. I feel like Mobley & Giddey have the IQ to get the job done to lead them.

 

Team Pau Gasol will feature: Paolo Banchero (Magic), Benedict Mathurin (Pacers), Jaden Ivey (Pistons), Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Jose Alvarado (Pelicans), Keegan Murray (Kings), Andrew Nembhard (Pacers)

Team Deron Williams: Franz Wagner (Magic), Jalen Green (Rockets) (injured) , Alperen Sengun (Rockets), Trey Murphy III (Pelicans), AJ Griffin (Hawks), Bones Hyland (Clippers), Walker Kessler (Jazz), Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls) 

Team Joakim Noah: Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), Josh Giddey (Thunder), Jalen Williams (Thunder), Jeremy Sochan (Spurs), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets), Jalen Duren (Pistons) injured,  Tari Eason (Rockets) 

Team Jason Terry: Sidy Cissoko, G League Ignite, Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite, Mojave King, G League Ignite, Kenneth Lofton Jr., Memphis Hustle, Mac McClung, Delaware Blue Coats, Leonard Miller, G League Ignite, Scotty Pippen Jr., South Bay Lakers

 

 

NBA Dunk Contest 

 

The 2023 Dunk contest will feature: Kenyon Martin Jr., Houston Rockets,  
Mac McClung, Philadelphia 76ers, 
Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans, 
Jericho Sims, New York Knicks

This will be the final event on Saturday Night and the most highly anticipated. 

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr)  I believe Mac McClung could potentially win the dunk contest this year but Kenyon Martian Jr could cause some problems and take it this year. Whoever is the winner I hope this event puts on a show as previous dunk contests have not lived up to the expectations. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) This is a no-brainer for me with the dunk contest winner. I’m rolling with Kenyon Martin Jr. I’ve seen his hops in person and he can jump out of the gym. I’m going with the over that he dunks on his dad in the dunk contest too. The dunk contest hasn’t been very good as of late and I’m hoping he can put on a show to bring it back so I can hear Kenny Smith saying “Superman is in the building”

 

NBA 3- Point Contest

 

The 3 Point Contest this year will feature these athletes: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers, 
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat, Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers, 
Kevin Huerter, Sacramento Kings, 
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, 
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, 
Julius Randle, New York Knicks, 
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr)  The 3-point contest is always a fun treat to watch as there are sometimes some upsets. I believe this year’s 3-point champion will be Damian Lillard and the runner up Jayson Tatum. Lillard has been known for his deep-range shots and there is no Klay Thompson or Stephen Curry this year to take home the trophy. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) The NBA 3 Point Contest should be headlining the All-Star Saturday Night in my opinion as good as it’s been in recent years. Now with that said I’m going with Buddy Hield for his 2nd 3 Point Contest Championship with Damian Lillard as the runner-up. Buddy has the experience and he’s already shown that he can put on a show with the lights on.

 

NBA Skills Challenge

 

The 2023 NBA Skills challenge will include three separate teams. This challenge includes passing, shooting, and a Team Relay. After they complete those skills challenges the winner will be determined by having the most points from completing those challenges. 

Team Antetokounmpo: 
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
, Alex Antetokounmpo, Wisconsin Herd

Team Jazz: 
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
, Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz, 
Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz

Team Rookies: 
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, 
Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
, Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets

 

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr) I believe Antetokounmpo will take this challenge as two Antetokounmpo brothers are in the NBA and have the experience to win this challenge. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) I’m going with Team Jazz because they all have chemistry and play together on a daily basis so they have the advantage to me.

 

 

NBA All-Star Game

 

This year’s NBA All-Star Game will be different from previous years as a draft will take place before tipoff and Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are captains for the Eastern and Western Conference. 

Team Captains LeBron & Giannis:  Stephen Curry (will miss the game due to injury, Ja Morant will take Curry’s spot in starting lineup), 
Luka Dončić
, Nikola Jokić
, Zion Williamson (will miss the game due to injury, Lauri Markkanen will take Williamson’s spot in starting lineup), Ja Morant
, Lauri Markkanen, 
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 
Damian Lillard, 
Jaren Jackson Jr.
, Domantas Sabonis, 
Paul George, 
Anthony Edwards (injury replacement for Curry), 
De’Aaron Fox (injury replacement for Williamson), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Captain), Kevin Durant (will miss the game due to injury, Joel Embiid will take Durant’s spot in starting lineup), 
Kyrie Irving, 
Donovan Mitchell, 
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, 
Bam Adebayo, 
Julius Randle, 
DeMar DeRozan, 
Jrue Holiday, 
Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam (injury replacement for Durant

Prediction: (Angel Ortiz Jr) Despite us not knowing who will have who, Giannis is determined to beat LeBron, and we could potentially see another classic All-Star Game on our hands. 

Prediction: (Travis Singleton) I’m just hoping for an EPIC game and it will be cool to see what players are joined together on the same team this year. I’m going Team LeBron because he’s been a great player selector with the 1st pick.

Feb 17, 2023 No Comments
The New Look Minnesota Timberwolves Lose To The Memphis Grizzlies (128-107)

The New Look Minnesota Timberwolves Lose To The Memphis Grizzlies (128-107)

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by | Feb 11, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

 

 

The day started off with the breaking news that Anthony Edwards was going to be in the NBA All-Star Game. Edwards was selected as an injury replacement and got the news at the shootaround today. This was also the first game after the trade and the Minnesota Timberwolves were excited to have Conley Jr and Alexander-Walker available for tonight. The new-look Timberwolves were ready for all the smoke as they were ready to go toe to toe with their playoff rivals from last postseason.

 

The Timberwolves started this game off really well as Mike Conley Jr was able to make an instant impact. The ball was flowing and he was able to get the ball in the spots that Gobert/Edwards wanted to attack from the start. You can still see that the relationship is new as they had some minor mistakes but as time goes along these small hiccups can be straightened out with ease. The Timberwolves got a true leader in Mike Conley Jr and he showed a lot of those traits tonight out there. Anthony Edwards finished the game with 17 points and couldn’t really get his offense going as he shot 8/19 from the field. Edwards was attacking but didn’t get the calls and it didn’t help that the game was played in Memphis. Sometimes stars can get a call when they’re at home so once Edwards jumper was off it threw the whole game off for him. One thing that we didn’t see tonight was the defensive Ant that can use his defense to create easy offense but he will most definitely bounce back.

 

Anthony Edwards is an All-Star now and that comes with a lot of responsibility and accountability when it comes to your team. The starters struggled in this game but it was good to see Jaylen Nowell get into a shooting groove as he was able to add 21 points off the bench to be the games leading scorer for the Timberwolves. Nowell has shown glimpses of what he can do when he gets hot so hopefully this will continue leading into other games for the Timberwolves.  You have to give the Timberwolves a lot of credit they went out there with a new point guard and tried to make the best of it against a well-oiled machine in Memphis. That Memphis squad knows each other inside out and plays together as a unit with experience together.

 

It was too much Ja Morant for the Timberwolves tonight as he was able to do anything and everything he wanted. This season the Timberwolves have held Morant in check somewhat but tonight it just got out of hand. Ja finished with 32 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds and was able to get in there for 3 steals as well. It was a game where he was able to control the pace and tempo of the game on his own. When Ja Morant gets to play comfortably and gets a lot of space to operate it’s tough for any defense. Minnesota wasn’t putting multiple bodies on Morant and it gave him a chance to set the offense up or catch the Timberwolves while they weren’t set. Memphis shot 58% from the field and when you’re that hot it’s going to be a long night for any defense.

 

 

 

 

The Timberwolves are going to throw this game out as the Grizzlies beat them in every category tonight (REBS, FT, AST, STL, BLK, BENCH PTS, POINTS IN PAINT, ETC). This is one of the reasons why it’s good to get 82 games so if you have one like this you can forget and move on. The Timberwolves will be looking to bounce back on Monday as they take on the new look Dallas Mavericks with Luka & Kyrie.

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

 

Feb 11, 2023 No Comments
3 Team Trade Sends D’Angelo Russell To The Lakers & Mike Conley Jr To The Minnesota Timberwolves

3 Team Trade Sends D’Angelo Russell To The Lakers & Mike Conley Jr To The Minnesota Timberwolves

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by | Feb 9, 2023 | Featured, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

 

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz were preparing to play their game yesterday as news started brewing about a potential trade in the works. The Los Angeles Lakers were trying to get their hands on D’Angelo Russell and the Timberwolves were rumored to get Mike Conley Jr. Both teams played each other but Russell & Conley Jr were ruled out as the trade chatter continued to go up until the late afternoon. The Lakers have been rumored to be trying to get rid of Russell Westbrook and they did just that as news broke out that the trade was indeed happening.

 

 

Now that the trade is finalized it’s time to talk about how this impacts all three teams involved in this trade moving forward. We will start off with the Lakers who got a great addition to the team with D’Angelo Russell who’s still got a lot to give to the team. It was just clear that he wasn’t going to get that extension money that he wanted from the Timberwolves as they had to move on. On the season D’Angelo Russell has averaged 17.9 ppg and 6.2 ast per game he will be a great help to that Lakers roster. The Lakers have acquired Russell to help with their scoring issues outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Russell’s only 26 years old and he has a lot to offer this Lakers team he’s already familiar with LA as he was drafted there back when Magic was in charge.

 

The Lakers get a scorer and someone that can get the ball to LeBron and Davis but also can go down the court and get a bucket when it’s much needed. Look for Russell to get more opportunities playing alongside both of them as he will have plenty of chances to score with the number of double teams they get per game. DLo was great for the Timberwolves but they chose to move on and this could be one of the missing pieces to the Lakers going far in the playoffs as Russell has a chance to showcase why he’s still an elite talent on a championship-caliber team.

 

The Minnesota Timberwolves were able to get Mike Conley Jr. and Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 3 second-round picks in the trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to LA. This honestly is a perfect trade for the Timberwolves because you get a Mike Conley Jr. who’s seasoned but has the court IQ that comes with winning basketball. Mike Conley Jr. has been through the playoff battles and he knows exactly what it takes to lead a team in the playoffs. The Timberwolves are getting a leader in the locker room and someone that comes with a lot of winning experience that can change the culture of this team. Mike Conley Jr is averaging 10.7 ppg and 7.7 ast per game this season and he’s coming to a Timberwolves team that is eager to make some noise in the postseason. The great thing about this trade is the fact you get a player who’s already experienced with playing with Rudy Gobert and has great chemistry with him.

 

The Conley Jr. and Gobert Pick N Roll will be in full effect as Minnesota will be able to execute at a high level in the paint. Mike Conley Jr. will also get the ball in Anthony Edwards hands with space and get it to him in his sweet spots. Once Karl-Anthony Towns comes back to the lineup he will be able to get the ball where he likes it as well. Mike Conley  Jr. has made a defensive team and he knows how to get in those passing lanes so this Minnesota defense will be elite from their starting five. The Timberwolves acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker as well in the trade. Nickeil has shown some signs of growth in his young career and he gives Minnesota another shooter but also someone that can handle the rock as well. It will be interesting to see how he’s used by the organization as we see how the trade unfolds.

 

 

 

The Utah Jazz gave up Mike Conkey Jr, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt but they got Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damion Jones in the deal. The Utah Jazz is rumored to buy out Russell Westbrook so it’s yet to be determined what happens with Westbrook as it’s unlikely he suits up in Utah. There have already been reports of the Clippers, Bulls, and Heat in the mix if Westbrook hits the market. As far as Juan and Damion both players bring some depth to this Utah team and can help when it comes to filling some voids on the defensive end and help bolster the bench.

 

The Jazz has freed up about $60M in cap space and has some young talent that they’re trying to build around moving forward and we can’t forget all the picks that they have acquired as well. This was a great trade for the Jazz who are building that team from the ground up as they look to get in the mix in the draft and offseason.

 

Overall I believe all three teams got what they wanted and that this trade will help them all right now/long run. The Lakers got a great scorer and the Timberwolves got a true leader/floor general in the mix as well. Can’t wait as both the Lakers and Timberwolves will be playing each other on March 31st in Minnesota.

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

Feb 9, 2023 No Comments