The 2024 Playoffs will be bringing along with it a rematch between two prominent powerhouse teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns. While the Timberwolves have held one of the best win records this season (56-26) compared to the other Western Conference Teams, they haven’t had that much luck when facing off against Kevin Durant and co. With the stakes being high during this next tournament stage, both teams will look to place their finest players forward during the six-game series. To do so, however, the players will have to first be available.
A few hours ahead of the game, AZ Central reporter Duane Rankin highlighted an update from the Phoenix Suns side. According to it, the franchise’s head coach Frank Vogel has confirmed that Damion Lee, who has been absent during the entire regular season, will remain ‘Out’. The good news, however, is that the player can probably make an appearance if the Suns successfully continue their playoff run for long. Other than Lee, no other player has been listed on the Injury Report.
Frank Vogel said everyone is healthy and ready to go outside of Damion Lee (knee), whose is OUT but has said the deeper the Suns playoff run, the better chance he has of playing.
Game 1 vs. Timberwolves Saturday at Target Center. #Suns pic.twitter.com/90338vFixx
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 19, 2024
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The Suns’ Injury Report had been relatively free of any significant players for quite some time now. There was an exception to the same after center Jusuf Nurkic was listed as questionable a few weeks ago due to a right ankle sprain. Before that, shooting guard Bradley Beal, who has been averaging 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5 assists this season, had also developed complications from his left hamstring injury. However, both of those injuries are now a matter of the past.
An online X user recently took to his official account to share an update from the Timberwolves’ recently released Injury Report. It stated that for Game 1 of the Suns clash, no players have been listed on the report. This would mean that the main lineup against the Arizona team would consist of the same players that have been given the primary status since the beginning of the regular season.
The Timberwolves were initially stuck in an unwanted situation, as their power forward Karl-Anthony Towns had been sidelined since early March due to a left meniscus tear. During that 18-game hiatus, it became a challenge for players to cover for their teammate, who has now established a season-average score of 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Anthony Towns has been present since mid-April and has no intention of finding his name again on the Injury Report.
How would the Starting Lineup and the Depth Chart for the Wolves-Suns clash look like?
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All players for the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to be present at the Target Center in Minnesota within the next few hours. In light of that update, the starting lineup for the team is expected to look something like this:
POSITION | STARTER | 2 | 3 |
PG | Mike Conley | Monte Morris | Jordan McLaughlin |
SG | Anthony Edwards | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | Jordan McLaughlin |
SF | Jaden McDaniels | Kyle Anderson | Nickeil Alexander-Walker |
PF | Karl-Anthony Towns | Naz Reid | Kyle Anderson |
C | Rudy Gobert | Naz Reid | Karl-Anthony Towns |
The Suns will be arriving at the arena with their full roster as well, with the exception of Damion Lee. Therefore, their starting lineup is expected to look something like this:
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POSITION | STARTER | 2 | 3 |
PG | Devin Booker | Bradley Beal | Isaiah Thomas |
SG | Bradley Beal | Eric Gordon | Grayson Allen |
SF | Grayson Allen | Royce O’Neale | Josh Okogie |
PF | Kevin Durant | Royce O’Neale | Bol Bol |
C | Jusuf Nurkic | Thaddeus Young | Drew Eubanks |
In the 3 times the two teams have faced each other this season, the Wolves have fallen each time to Kevin Durant & Co. Now with much at stake, it remains to see in whose favor the streak will lie. The Minnesota Timberwolves or the Phoenix Suns: Who will be your pick?