Posted on: November 29, 2022, 10:11h.
Final up to date on: November 29, 2022, 10:11h.
Karl-Anthony Cities, the beginning energy ahead from the Minnesota Timberwolves, wanted help off the courtroom after he suffered a non-contact decrease proper leg damage in opposition to the Washington Wizards.
Karl-Anthony Cities from the Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the courtroom with a proper calf damage throughout a loss in opposition to the Washington Wizards at Capital One Area in Washington, DC. (Picture: AP)
Cities collapsed to the ground whereas working down the courtroom within the second half in opposition to the Wizards. He instantly clutched his decrease proper leg. Teammates helped him off the courtroom as he hopped on one leg.
Clearly tremendous involved about that,” stated Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch. “Massive blow for us.”
The Timberwolves indicated that Cities averted a severe damage, like a torn Achilles tendon, and dominated him out the rest of the sport with a proper calf pressure.
“That video was scary,” ahead Kyle Anderson informed the Star Tribune. “I’m completely happy it’s extra on the lesser aspect.”
Cities will endure an MRI on Tuesday to gauge the severity of the damage after which decide how a lot time he’ll miss.
In 22 minutes of motion in opposition to the Wizards, Cities scored eight factors and added 4 assists and two rebounds. He solely took six pictures and missed 4.
With out Cities down the stretch, the Timberwolves misplaced to the Wizards by 15 factors in a 142-127 defeat. The Timberwolves prolonged their shedding streak to a few in a row, and now have a 10-11 document.
Karl-Anthony Cities was helped off the courtroom after struggling an obvious leg damage. pic.twitter.com/ocsQ1pDJ0Q
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 29, 2022
Twin Cities, Twin Towers
After profitable the 2022 Western Convention Play-In Match, the Timberwolves secured the #7 seed within the playoffs. They had been knocked out of the playoffs within the first spherical by the #2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies and Timberwolves slugged it out over six video games in arguably probably the most thrilling sequence within the Western Convention playoffs.
With the Timberwolves lastly taking a step in the fitting path, they made a blockbuster commerce within the offseason to enhance their protection. The Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert from the Utah Jazz. They coughed up 4 first-round draft picks and 5 gamers — together with the #22 decide within the 2022 NBA Draft — in change for the three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
With the addition of Gobert, Cities fortunately moved over to energy ahead or the #4 place, as a substitute of a standard heart or #5 spot. In an period of small ball, the Timberwolves inserted a pair of seven-footers into the beginning lineup with Cities and Gobert.
In 21 video games this season, Cities averages 20.8 factors, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per sport. His scoring and rebounding is down, however his assists are up. Cities struggled from 3-point vary this season with a career-low 32.5% success fee from downtown. He related on 40% or higher from past the arc in 4 of his 5 earlier seasons.
Gobert appeared in 19 video games with the Timberwolves this season averaging 13.8 factors, 12.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per sport. His numbers are down from his ultimate season with the Jazz whereas he adjusts to his new crew.
Twenty or so video games is a small pattern measurement, however Minnesota’s model of the Twin Towers has but to come back to fruition with the crew hovering round .500.
Betting the Timberwolves
If Cities is out for an prolonged time, Finch may begin a three-guard lineup with a frontline consisting of small ahead Jaden McDaniels and Gobert.
Backup forwards Kyle Anderson, Nathan Knight, and rookie Josh Minott may see a rise in enjoying time filling in for Cities. Minott, a second-round draft decide from Memphis, averages 4.0 factors and three.0 rebounds per sport in restricted motion this season.
After slipping to 10-11 on the season, the Timberwolves occupy fourth place within the Northwest Division. They path the first-place Denver Nuggets by 3.5 video games.
If the season had been to finish right this moment, the Timberwolves would qualify for the Western Convention Play-In Match because the #10 seed.
The Timberwolves are at the moment +7000 odds to win the 2022-23 NBA Championship. Their odds shrunk for the reason that preseason, once they had been as little as +3500 odds to win the title. The Timberwolves noticed their futures spike throughout the board within the offseason after they acquired Gobert in a commerce. Nonetheless, they didn’t dwell as much as the preseason hype.
The Timberwolves had been +140 odds to win the Northwest Division within the preseason because the second-best favourite behind the Nuggets at -140 odds. After their gradual begin, the Timberwolves are +750 odds to win the Northwest because the third favourite on the board behind the Nuggets (-250) and the Portland Path Blazers (+500).
