The Suns had their faith sealed with a 122-116 loss in Game 4 despite valiant efforts by All-Star Devin Booker, who scored 49 points, and superstar Kevin Durant, who had 33 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, the Timberwolves became the first team to clinch the conference semi-finals and are now waiting to see how the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets series wraps up to find out their next playoff opponent.

The Suns were ahead for most of the Game 4, and it initially looked like they might just avoid a sweep. However, Timberwolves’ shooting guard Anthony Edwards took over in the second half, scoring 31 points to help his team finish the series then and there.

Edwards had help from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels also added 18 points. On the other hand, no one besides Booker and Durant scored in double digits for the Suns.

The Suns will now have to go to the drawing board despite having Durant, Booker, and All-Star Bradley Beal on their roster. The Timberwolves will enjoy their first playoff series win in two decades while also feeling pretty good about themselves, regardless of whether the Lakers or Nuggets come next. 

The post Phoenix Suns Swept By Minnesota Timberwolves in First-Round of 2024 NBA Playoffs appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Towns will be out for at least a month after the surgery. There is hope that he might return early into the Timberwolves’ postseason campaign.

It is unclear when Towns suffered the injury. He played his most recent game on Monday, scoring 14 points and adding four rebounds in a 119-114 win over the Trail Blazers. Towns was then ruled out of the game against the Indiana Pacers with knee soreness.

Karl-Anthony Towns has been a big part of the Timberwolves’ success this season. Before the injury, he was averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting a career-high 42.3% from behind the three-point line. Towns also received his fourth All-Star nod. 

The Timberwolves are currently in the midst of a four-way battle for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They have a 44-20 record, sitting second in the standings with only half a game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Minnesota is also only half a game in front of the third-placed Denver Nuggets and two games in front of the fourth-placed Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns Has a Torn Meniscus, Will Need Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The extension, confirmed by Conley’s agents Steven Heumann and Jess Holtz, comes with a value of $21 million. Conley was in the final year of his contract, which earns him $23.36 million in 2023-24.

Since coming to Minnesota midway through the 2022-23 NBA season, Conley played a significant role in turning around the Wolves’ fortunes. He provided veteran leadership in the locker room while also being a contributor on the floor.

Conley’s impact has been particularly evident this season, as he played a significant role in a 39-16 start that sees the Wolves sitting at the top of the Western Conference. He is currently averaging 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game while shooting a career-best 44.2% from behind the three-point line.

Before joining the Timberwolves, Conley spent 12 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and three-and-a-half seasons with the Jazz. Throughout his NBA career, Conley earned one All-Star nod in 2021, while receiving NBA Teammate of the Year honors in 2019 and being recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award four times.

The post Timberwolves Sign Veteran PG Mike Conley to 2-Year, $21 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The latest in a long line of athletes to undergo Chinese naturalization, Anderson has become the first basketball player to do so.

“I’m so happy to announce that I will be representing China at the World Cup,” Anderson stated in a video that he released on his Weibo account. “Really proud and honored to wear the Team China jersey.”

Because FIBA allows teams to include one naturalized player on their roster, Anderson could be in line to represent China at the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

According to Chinese media, Anderson’s maternal grandmother was born in Jamaica to a Chinese father and a Jamaican mother. It remains unclear whether Anderson has renounced his original nationality, with China typically prohibiting dual nationality for its citizens.

The post Timberwolves’ Kyle Anderson Will Represent China at the World Cup appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Reportedly, the extension could end up being worth $260 million. Edwards has one year left on his rookie deal that will pay him $13.5 million in the 2023-24 NBA season.

The Timberwolves have yet to make the official announcement, but Edwards confirmed the deal in a statement issued to ESPN.

“I’m humbled, appreciative, and excited to remain in Minnesota as part of this incredible Timberwolves organization,” Edwards said via ESPN. “It’s amazing to see where hard work can take you.”

Anthony Edwards established himself as one of the league’s most exciting and dynamic young players since being taken first overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Edwards is coming off a stellar season in 2022-23, in which he averaged career highs across the board. He finished the campaign with 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

Edwards became the fourth member of the 2020 draft class to get a max rookie extension. Previously, LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), and Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies) all got similar deals from their respective teams.

The post Timberwolves Sign All-Star Anthony Edwards to a 5-Year, $260 Million Max Rookie Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Towns left the Timberwolves’ 142-127 loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday night during the third quarter, thereby giving rise to fears of a significant injury. The player suffered a noncontact injury when he turned to run down the court, immediately grabbing at his calf as he did so. He needed assistance to get back to the locker room as a result.

An examination of Towns’ injury on Monday night gave rise to concerns that he had in fact suffered an Achilles injury, however, imaging performed the following day extinguished such concerns.

The 27-year-old player has averaged 21.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 20 games this season, while averaging 23.1 points and 11.2 rebounds over the course of his eight-season NBA career.

The post Karl-Anthony Towns Sidelined With Calf Strain appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Nets will now take on the Boston Celtics in the First round of playoffs while the Timberwolves face the Memphis Grizzlies.

Brooklyn’s win over the Cavs was highlighted by the performance of their All-Star duo, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Irving stole the show with 34 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds, while Durant added 25 points, 11 assists, and five boards.

Cleveland’s best player on the night was guard Darius Garland, who matched Irving’s 34, while rookie Evan Mobley contributed with 19 points and seven rebounds. 

Second-year player Anthony Edwards will take the most credit for Minnesota’s win with 30 points and five rebounds. Veteran guard D’Angelo Russell had 29 points, while the team’s biggest star Karl-Anthony Towns scored 11 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Paul George had to do it all for the Clippers, scoring 34 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing five assists.

The Cavs and the Clippers’ playoffs’ hopes are still alive despite the losses. The Cavaliers will play the winner of the Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks matchup for the eighth seed, while the LA team will face either San Antonio Spurs or New Orleans Pelicans to get the No. 8 in the West. 

The post Nets and Timberwolves Secure 2022 NBA Playoff Spots appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Vanderbilt began his NBA career in 2018, as the 41st overall pick in the NBA Draft. He played for the Denver Nuggets over two seasons before making the move to the Timberwolves on February 5th, 2020.

The 22-year-old forward has experienced a difficult start to his professional basketball career as the result of numerous injuries. Over the last two-plus seasons, Vanderbilt has appeared in just 28 games for both Denver and Minnesota combined, averaging 5.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in a little under 18 minutes per game.

Last season was the first full season that Vanderbilt was able to play through without injuries since his junior year of high school. During his time with the Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt was only able to feature in 14 games, averaging 5.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.

The post Jarred Vanderbilt Agrees to Remain with Timberwolves on 3-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Thankfully he won’t need surgery, although his indefinite timetable to return isn’t exactly encouraging.

The injury took place during a game against the Utah Jazz. Towns had leaped up for a rebound, fighting for the ball with All-Star center Rudy Gobert—before landing hard on his wrist.

Despite the injury, Towns returned to the game and finished strong for a 116-111 win against the Jazz. He even added 16 points and 12 rebounds to boot. But after the game it was clear that he needed to be evaluated further.

“I couldn’t catch anything,” Towns told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I was really there more just to be a distraction on the court. I just was there in case my team needed me.”

Towns is making sure to keep an optimistic mindset throughout it all: “I’m going to just stay positive,” he declared.

With a Western conference stacked with formidable teams, staying positive is exactly what the Timberwolves need if they want to make the playoffs.

The post Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns Out With Dislocated Wrist appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The pick was not entirely surprising, since Edwards has been considered a top talent in his class since high school. Born and raised in Georgia, Edwards decided to stay close to home and play for the University of Georgia in college.

The top three picks in this year’s NBA draft were Edwards, center James Wiseman, who was selected by the Golden State Warriors, and LaMelo Ball, who was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the third pick.

Edwards was probably the safest choice for the Timberwolves, who will look to take advantage of his versatility and shooting prowess. Edwards is 6-5 and a natural shooting guard that is very athletic, with the skill to play point guard as well if called upon to do so.

Edwards was a prolific scorer in college, despite the fact that he didn’t play on a very successful team. He is able to create opportunities in transition and has a natural ability to get to the basket and score.

The Timberwolves now have a solid core of three star players with Edwards, point guard D’Angelo Russel, and big man Karl-Anthony Towns expected to lead the team moving forward.

The post Timberwolves Take Anthony Edwards with No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns had their faith sealed with a 122-116 loss in Game 4 despite valiant efforts by All-Star Devin Booker, who scored 49 points, and superstar Kevin Durant, who had 33 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, the Timberwolves became the first team to clinch the conference semi-finals and are now waiting to see how the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets series wraps up to find out their next playoff opponent.

The Suns were ahead for most of the Game 4, and it initially looked like they might just avoid a sweep. However, Timberwolves’ shooting guard Anthony Edwards took over in the second half, scoring 31 points to help his team finish the series then and there.

Edwards had help from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels also added 18 points. On the other hand, no one besides Booker and Durant scored in double digits for the Suns.

The Suns will now have to go to the drawing board despite having Durant, Booker, and All-Star Bradley Beal on their roster. The Timberwolves will enjoy their first playoff series win in two decades while also feeling pretty good about themselves, regardless of whether the Lakers or Nuggets come next. 

The post Phoenix Suns Swept By Minnesota Timberwolves in First-Round of 2024 NBA Playoffs appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Towns will be out for at least a month after the surgery. There is hope that he might return early into the Timberwolves’ postseason campaign.

It is unclear when Towns suffered the injury. He played his most recent game on Monday, scoring 14 points and adding four rebounds in a 119-114 win over the Trail Blazers. Towns was then ruled out of the game against the Indiana Pacers with knee soreness.

Karl-Anthony Towns has been a big part of the Timberwolves’ success this season. Before the injury, he was averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting a career-high 42.3% from behind the three-point line. Towns also received his fourth All-Star nod. 

The Timberwolves are currently in the midst of a four-way battle for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They have a 44-20 record, sitting second in the standings with only half a game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, Minnesota is also only half a game in front of the third-placed Denver Nuggets and two games in front of the fourth-placed Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns Has a Torn Meniscus, Will Need Surgery appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The extension, confirmed by Conley’s agents Steven Heumann and Jess Holtz, comes with a value of $21 million. Conley was in the final year of his contract, which earns him $23.36 million in 2023-24.

Since coming to Minnesota midway through the 2022-23 NBA season, Conley played a significant role in turning around the Wolves’ fortunes. He provided veteran leadership in the locker room while also being a contributor on the floor.

Conley’s impact has been particularly evident this season, as he played a significant role in a 39-16 start that sees the Wolves sitting at the top of the Western Conference. He is currently averaging 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game while shooting a career-best 44.2% from behind the three-point line.

Before joining the Timberwolves, Conley spent 12 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and three-and-a-half seasons with the Jazz. Throughout his NBA career, Conley earned one All-Star nod in 2021, while receiving NBA Teammate of the Year honors in 2019 and being recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award four times.

The post Timberwolves Sign Veteran PG Mike Conley to 2-Year, $21 Million Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The latest in a long line of athletes to undergo Chinese naturalization, Anderson has become the first basketball player to do so.

“I’m so happy to announce that I will be representing China at the World Cup,” Anderson stated in a video that he released on his Weibo account. “Really proud and honored to wear the Team China jersey.”

Because FIBA allows teams to include one naturalized player on their roster, Anderson could be in line to represent China at the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

According to Chinese media, Anderson’s maternal grandmother was born in Jamaica to a Chinese father and a Jamaican mother. It remains unclear whether Anderson has renounced his original nationality, with China typically prohibiting dual nationality for its citizens.

The post Timberwolves’ Kyle Anderson Will Represent China at the World Cup appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Reportedly, the extension could end up being worth $260 million. Edwards has one year left on his rookie deal that will pay him $13.5 million in the 2023-24 NBA season.

The Timberwolves have yet to make the official announcement, but Edwards confirmed the deal in a statement issued to ESPN.

“I’m humbled, appreciative, and excited to remain in Minnesota as part of this incredible Timberwolves organization,” Edwards said via ESPN. “It’s amazing to see where hard work can take you.”

Anthony Edwards established himself as one of the league’s most exciting and dynamic young players since being taken first overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Edwards is coming off a stellar season in 2022-23, in which he averaged career highs across the board. He finished the campaign with 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

Edwards became the fourth member of the 2020 draft class to get a max rookie extension. Previously, LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), and Desmond Bane (Memphis Grizzlies) all got similar deals from their respective teams.

The post Timberwolves Sign All-Star Anthony Edwards to a 5-Year, $260 Million Max Rookie Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Towns left the Timberwolves’ 142-127 loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday night during the third quarter, thereby giving rise to fears of a significant injury. The player suffered a noncontact injury when he turned to run down the court, immediately grabbing at his calf as he did so. He needed assistance to get back to the locker room as a result.

An examination of Towns’ injury on Monday night gave rise to concerns that he had in fact suffered an Achilles injury, however, imaging performed the following day extinguished such concerns.

The 27-year-old player has averaged 21.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 20 games this season, while averaging 23.1 points and 11.2 rebounds over the course of his eight-season NBA career.

The post Karl-Anthony Towns Sidelined With Calf Strain appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Nets will now take on the Boston Celtics in the First round of playoffs while the Timberwolves face the Memphis Grizzlies.

Brooklyn’s win over the Cavs was highlighted by the performance of their All-Star duo, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Irving stole the show with 34 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds, while Durant added 25 points, 11 assists, and five boards.

Cleveland’s best player on the night was guard Darius Garland, who matched Irving’s 34, while rookie Evan Mobley contributed with 19 points and seven rebounds. 

Second-year player Anthony Edwards will take the most credit for Minnesota’s win with 30 points and five rebounds. Veteran guard D’Angelo Russell had 29 points, while the team’s biggest star Karl-Anthony Towns scored 11 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Paul George had to do it all for the Clippers, scoring 34 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing five assists.

The Cavs and the Clippers’ playoffs’ hopes are still alive despite the losses. The Cavaliers will play the winner of the Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks matchup for the eighth seed, while the LA team will face either San Antonio Spurs or New Orleans Pelicans to get the No. 8 in the West. 

The post Nets and Timberwolves Secure 2022 NBA Playoff Spots appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Vanderbilt began his NBA career in 2018, as the 41st overall pick in the NBA Draft. He played for the Denver Nuggets over two seasons before making the move to the Timberwolves on February 5th, 2020.

The 22-year-old forward has experienced a difficult start to his professional basketball career as the result of numerous injuries. Over the last two-plus seasons, Vanderbilt has appeared in just 28 games for both Denver and Minnesota combined, averaging 5.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in a little under 18 minutes per game.

Last season was the first full season that Vanderbilt was able to play through without injuries since his junior year of high school. During his time with the Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt was only able to feature in 14 games, averaging 5.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.

The post Jarred Vanderbilt Agrees to Remain with Timberwolves on 3-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Thankfully he won’t need surgery, although his indefinite timetable to return isn’t exactly encouraging.

The injury took place during a game against the Utah Jazz. Towns had leaped up for a rebound, fighting for the ball with All-Star center Rudy Gobert—before landing hard on his wrist.

Despite the injury, Towns returned to the game and finished strong for a 116-111 win against the Jazz. He even added 16 points and 12 rebounds to boot. But after the game it was clear that he needed to be evaluated further.

“I couldn’t catch anything,” Towns told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I was really there more just to be a distraction on the court. I just was there in case my team needed me.”

Towns is making sure to keep an optimistic mindset throughout it all: “I’m going to just stay positive,” he declared.

With a Western conference stacked with formidable teams, staying positive is exactly what the Timberwolves need if they want to make the playoffs.

The post Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns Out With Dislocated Wrist appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The pick was not entirely surprising, since Edwards has been considered a top talent in his class since high school. Born and raised in Georgia, Edwards decided to stay close to home and play for the University of Georgia in college.

The top three picks in this year’s NBA draft were Edwards, center James Wiseman, who was selected by the Golden State Warriors, and LaMelo Ball, who was taken by the Charlotte Hornets with the third pick.

Edwards was probably the safest choice for the Timberwolves, who will look to take advantage of his versatility and shooting prowess. Edwards is 6-5 and a natural shooting guard that is very athletic, with the skill to play point guard as well if called upon to do so.

Edwards was a prolific scorer in college, despite the fact that he didn’t play on a very successful team. He is able to create opportunities in transition and has a natural ability to get to the basket and score.

The Timberwolves now have a solid core of three star players with Edwards, point guard D’Angelo Russel, and big man Karl-Anthony Towns expected to lead the team moving forward.

The post Timberwolves Take Anthony Edwards with No. 1 Pick in NBA Draft appeared first on yoursportspot.com.