Welcome to the 2022-23 version of the Wolves Weekly Spotlight. Each Thursday, we’ll observe the progress of the gamers who’re attempting to assist Minnesota compete for a championship and provides updates on different gamers from the earlier week.
This is the seventh version of the 2023-23 Wolves Weekly Spotlight.
Talk about biding your time.
Rivers, signed this previous July, appeared in simply seven of Minnesota’s first 17 video games. His taking part in time picked up on the finish of November, and even included a few begins. However, his excessive sport was 9 factors (Nov. 7) and he reached six simply twice.
Not precisely a giant contributor. That all modified this previous week.
With D’Angelo Russell out, Rivers picked up begins Dec. 14 and 16. At Oklahoma City within the latter, Rivers scored 20 factors – together with a key 3-pointer within the waning moments – on 6-for-7 capturing (4-of-5 from 3). He additionally had 5 steals – he had all of 4 on the season getting into the sport.
Rivers was again on the bench the next sport in opposition to Chicago on Dec. 18 as Russell returned, however as soon as once more hit 4 3-pointers and completed with 14 factors and 4 rebounds.
But even with Russell again, head coach Chris Finch determined to get Rivers again into the lineup, beginning him in a pair of video games in opposition to Dallas.
Rivers responded with video games of 16 factors and 5 rebounds and 21 factors, 4 rebounds and two steals, combining to make 14 of 20 field-goal makes an attempt, together with 6 of 9 from behind the arc.
The two video games of 20+ factors matches the quantity he had final season with Denver. He had solely three such video games with the Nuggets and New York Knicks in 2020-21.
Rivers, who has been within the league since 2012-13, hasn’t had greater than three video games of 20+ factors for the reason that 2017-18 season when he had 12 with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Overall this previous week within the Wolves’ 4 video games, Rivers averaged 17.8 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a pair of.0 steals over 32.6 minutes. He shot a scorching 73.5% from the sector and 70.0% from 3 whereas additionally hitting 87.5% of his free-throw makes an attempt.
Rivers’ function with Minnesota was a little bit of an unknown when he signed – in spite of everything, the Wolves had two robust beginning guards in Anthony Edwards and Russell, a shooter in Jaylen Nowell and advantageous backup Jordan McLaughlin.
But issues can change shortly within the NBA. Rivers is simply the sort of man who can step in and produce at a second’s discover – as he’s confirmed within the final week with a few of his greatest play within the league in a while.
— Edwards continues to carry the “wow” issue as his capturing potential will increase. In 4 video games this previous week, Edwards averaged 26.5 factors, 8.8 rebounds and eight.0 assists whereas pulling down 47.6% of his photographs, together with 39.1% from 3. His standout week included setting season highs in factors (37 vs. Bulls), rebounds (13 vs. Dallas) and assists (11 vs. Bulls). It’s nonetheless early, however Edwards is establishing profession highs in factors (23.0), rebounds (6.0), assists (4.5), steals (1.8), field-goal share (45.5%) and 3-point share (36.2%).
— It was an fascinating week for Naz Reid. The heart performed greater than 36 minutes in two of Minnesota’s 4 video games however underneath 13 minutes within the different two. An harm stored him out of the second half in opposition to Chicago whereas Rudy Gobert’s return from harm eliminated Reid from the beginning lineup in opposition to Dallas on Wednesday. Still, when he performed, he produced. Reid had 28 factors and 9 rebounds on Dec. 16 at Oklahoma City, 10 factors in slightly below 12 minutes vs. the Bulls and 27 factors and 13 rebounds whereas taking part in 40 minutes in opposition to Dallas on Monday. Reid’s field rating plus/minus of +12.8 in the course of the week was second highest on the workforce. It will probably be fascinating to see what sort of taking part in time Reid can get with Gobert again (and finally Karl-Anthony Towns’ return, too).
— Jaden McDaniels quietly continues to have a very good season. He averaged 13.6 factors, 5.3 rebounds and a pair of.3 assists final week whereas capturing 52.6% from the sector and 41.2% from 3. His +13.5 was tops on the Wolves.
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