The Minnesota Timberwolves are taking on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night, needing a win to avoid their season coming to an end.
TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley likes the Timberwolves' chances in Game 5:
Said Barkley, “I'll be shocked if the Wolves don't win tonight… I expect them to blow this team out tonight… All they have to do is get back to Dallas.”
The good news for the Timberwolves is that guard Mike Conley is able to play in Game 5 despite appearing on the injury report with a calf injury.
While the severity of the strain is unknown, this is the same type of injury that Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo dealt with late in the regular season and into the playoffs. He was forced to miss all of the Bucks' playoff games. Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis has also been dealing with a right soleus strain and has missed 10 straight playoff games.
Timberwolves hold off elimination, force Game 5
The Timberwolves held off the Mavericks 105-100 in Game 4 to force a Game 5 back in Minnesota.
Anthony Edwards led the way for Minnesota on Tuesday night. He scored 29 points on 11-25 shooting from the field and 2-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Edwards added 10 rebounds and nine assists in the Timberwolves' win.
Conley Jr. helped the team establish its offense. The 2021 All-Star scored 14 points and dished out seven assists in 34 minutes, guiding a squad that shot 52.7 percent from the floor despite the injury.
There is an abundance of talent on this roster, but Conley is arguably the glue holding it all together. Regardless of any shenanigans, Edwards and the Timberwolves are well-aware of the immense value this veteran brings.
Since the Wolves acquired Mike Conley Jr. at the 2023 NBA trade deadline, they have started to realize their full potential. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, two players who were said to not fit alongside each other, have found a solid rhythm this past regular season. Edwards has climbed into the upper echelon of the league in the same span, and key supporting cast members like Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels became undeniable forces.
The Timberwolves are facing elimination and the odds aren't in their favor, but this team hasn't quit at all the season.
Why would they start now?
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