Timberwolves in Turmoil

If there’s one thing Anthony Edwards doesn’t do, it’s sugarcoat his feelings. After the Minnesota Timberwolves dropped their fourth straight game, a 115-104 loss to the Sacramento Kings, the 22-year-old star didn’t hold back.

A few months ago, this team was in the Western Conference finals. Fast forward to today, and the Wolves are 8-10, struggling to find cohesion after trading Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. The revamped lineup, headlined by Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, looks far from a finished product.

The loss to Sacramento was particularly painful. Minnesota blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead, just a day after a crushing overtime defeat to Houston. Fans at Target Center made their displeasure known, booing the team, a reaction Edwards described as crazy and disrespectful.

While Edwards led the team with 29 points, his frustration was clear both on the court and in the postgame press conference. He pointed to a team lacking unity:

Lakers Bounce Back Against Spurs

After two brutal losses, the Lakers found their groove with a 119-101 win over the Spurs on Wednesday. It wasn’t just about getting back in the win column, it was about rediscovering their identity.

Coach JJ Redick’s message to let go of the past seemed to resonate as the team brought renewed energy and focus.  Rookie Dalton Knecht returned to the starting lineup, while Cam Reddish came off the bench, a move that paid off as the Lakers dominated all four quarters.

Defensively, the Lakers were locked in, pushing Victor Wembanyama out of his comfort zone and controlling the paint. It’s too early to call it a turning point, but if the Lakers can maintain this momentum, they may leave their recent struggles behind for good.

Sixers’ in a Tough Spot, but Optimism Remains

The Philadelphia 76ers' season has been anything but smooth so far. With injuries piling up and a league-worst record trailing only the tanking Washington Wizards, it's safe to say this wasn’t the plan. Yet, hope is far from lost in Philly.

Paul George confidently told reporters. Despite being sidelined with a hyperextended knee, George remains optimistic. But his absence, coupled with Joel Embiid’s swollen left knee and Kyle Lowry’s lingering hip strain, has left the Sixers shorthanded and struggling to find consistency.

Historically speaking, teams that start 3-13 or worse don’t fare well. Only eight such teams in NBA history have clawed their way into the playoffs, and none advanced past the first round.

But this year’s Eastern Conference is shaping up to be historically weak. The Sixers sit just 3.5 games out of the Play-In Tournament and 4.5 games from a guaranteed top-six playoff spot. With 66 games remaining, there’s time to turn things around, if they can get healthy.

Trae Young’s Passing Clinic

Trae Young was dishing dimes like he was born with court vision, handing out a career-high 22 assists to go along with 20 points in Atlanta’s impressive 135-124 win over Cleveland. This marked the most assists in an NBA game this season, one shy of the Hawks’ franchise record.

The performance was as dazzling as it was clutch. From threading passes to his teammates to nailing a logo 3-pointer late in the game, Young proved he’s more than just a deep shooter. He’s the heartbeat of a Hawks team that thrives when he’s leading the charge.

Young’s 22 assists came against one of the NBA’s top defenses, with eight of them in the fourth quarter as Atlanta outplayed Cleveland down the stretch.

As coach Quin Snyder put it:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Keeps Rolling

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to show why he’s one of the league’s rising superstars. He dropped 35 points to help the Thunder edge out the Curry-less Warriors, 105-101, on Wednesday night.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Jalen Williams left the game late in the first half after a nasty eye injury while trying to defend Jonathan Kuminga’s dunk.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault didn’t have much of an update postgame, leaving the team and fans holding their breath. Before his exit, Williams had an impressive 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds in just 16 minutes.

As for the Warriors, they felt the absence of Stephen Curry, who sat out due to knee pain. Jonathan Kuminga stepped up with 19 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

With OKC now sitting pretty at 14-4, they’ve firmly established themselves as a threat in the West.

Suns’ Woes Continue

The Suns just can’t catch a break. Bradley Beal left Wednesday night’s game against Brooklyn with injuries to both his left ankle and calf after stepping on a defender’s foot.

Beal had been finding his rhythm with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, but this latest setback is concerning. He’s already missed a chunk of the season with a calf strain, and his injury history over the past three seasons isn’t exactly inspiring confidence.

The Suns have now lost seven of their last nine games and are struggling to keep their All-Star core on the floor.

Kyrie Irving Leads Mavs Past Knicks Without Luka

Even without Luka Doncic, the Mavericks cruised to victory behind a balanced team effort. Kyrie Irving led the charge with 23 points, as Dallas improved to 4-1 without their superstar this season.

Jalen Brunson, in his second return to Dallas, delivered a monster 37-point game for the Knicks but didn’t get enough help. While Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points and 14 rebounds, the usually reliable OG Anunoby struggled, going 3-of-15 from the field for just eight points.

Dallas was also shorthanded, missing Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford, yet they showed resilience and depth to secure the win.

Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas Sidelined

Cam Thomas is facing a setback in his All-Star-level campaign. The 23-year-old will be out for three to four weeks with a left hamstring strain.

Thomas has been on fire this season, averaging career highs of 24.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds while shooting an impressive 46.1% from the field and 38.9% from deep.

His latest performances were impressive, 34 points in a win over Sacramento, followed by 23 points against Golden State. The Nets will miss his scoring punch, and Tyrese Martin has to step up in a big way.

Kelsey Plum Steps Away from Unrivaled

In a surprising move, Kelsey Plum announced she won’t participate in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league this offseason. The Las Vegas Aces star shared on her Instagram story on Wednesday night;

Plum was set to play for Team Laces alongside stars like Courtney Williams and Alyssa Thomas. With her absence, Unrivaled now faces the challenge of filling her spot, along with two other open roster spots in the 36-player league.

Despite her departure, Plum remains a WNBA powerhouse. She averaged 17.8 points and 4.2 assists last season, contributing to the Aces’ back-to-back championships before falling short of a historic three-peat.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

We’ll see you tomorrow!

— The Players Unlimited Team