The first matchup for the second round of the NBA playoffs has been set. The Minnesota Timberwolves sent the Denver Nuggets home on Thursday, advancing to the second round to face the San Antonio Spurs.
With Anthony Edwards still recovering from a bone bruise in his knee sustained in the first round, the Timberwolves come into the series outmanned. Donte DiVincenzo is out for the remainder of the postseason with a torn Achilles while Ayo Dosunmu continues to battle a lingering right calf injury.
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To put it plainly, the Timberwolves are falling victim to injury woes at the worst possible time, especially considering how they match up against the Spurs.
San Antonio’s defense is among the best in the league, combined with a dynamic offense that is currently firing on all cylinders. There are two major questions for the Timberwolves going into this series that will determine if their season will be over.
Can Rudy Gobert slow down Victor Wembanyama?
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama looks on during the second half against the Denver Nuggets. Ron Chenoy — IMAGN IMAGES
Rudy Gobert is one of the most slept-on players in the NBA. He’s rightfully criticized for his offensive limitations, but his greatness on defense often goes understated.
That greatness was evident in the first round as he held Nikola Jokic to 44.6% from the field and 19.4% from three, both career playoff lows.
But the second round brings Gobert into an entirely new matchup. He had advantages in length and athleticism against Jokic, but those go out the window against a player like Victor Wembanyama.
He’s outsized while also being slower than Wembanyama. What Gobert does have is experience and some of the greatest defensive tools we’ve seen in the modern NBA. How he holds up on defense against Wembanyama’s dangerous offensive game will be a deciding factor in this series.
Wembanyama’s shot-creation and elite athleticism will put Gobert to the test, he’ll need to pass with flying colors in order for Minnesota to have a chance.
Can Minnesota’s offense keep up without Anthony Edwards?
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle looks on during the second half against the Indiana Pacers. Trevor Ruszkowski — IMAGN IMAGES
On the other side of the ball, the Timberwolves face a challenge that’s just as daunting. Without Edwards as the main offensive engine, Minnesota already struggles to score. The entire offensive identity revolves around their ability to get downhill to the rim, something that Wembanyama makes extremely difficult.
As Gobert’s defense is critical for the Timberwolves, the same can be said for Wembanyama’s defensive impact for the Spurs. He’s already a generational rim protector and easily the most impactful defender in the league.
With Wembanyama creating a wall in the paint, the Timberwolves will need to be red-hot from everywhere else on the floor in this series. This also won’t be easy as San Antonio has strong perimeter defenders in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
The absence of DiVincenzo will hurt Minnesota’s three-point shooting, so they’ll need Julius Randle to be at his absolute best with the ball in his hands.
Jaden McDaniels had a breakout series on offense against the Nuggets in the first round, but his defensive workload will likely be much higher in this series.
Edwards’ presence has been the catalyst for the Timberwolves’ offense this season. Without him, they may not have the firepower to keep up with the Spurs.
Ultimately, the Spurs appear to have every advantage in this matchup. This postseason has shown us that anything can happen, but it will be hard to stop the Spurs from winning this series in five or six games.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
